family with a Side of Pancakes Kumar`s Cafe in Wood River

Transcription

WaTCH FOr OUr nEXT IssUE avaIlaBlE MarCH 1sT-3rd
WHErE Can I FInd THE BUZZ MagaZInE?
Alton:
Alton Exchange Mall • Alton
Visitor’s Center • Big Lots • China King
Chocolate Air • Corky’s Emporium • Farm &
Home • Halpin Music • K-Mart • Mineral
Springs Haunted Tours & Mall • My Just
Our Mission: to promote pride in our region, its heritage
Desserts • National Tire & Battery • River
and its people by sharing their positive and uplifting
Bender Commmunity Center • Wild Hare
stories and to provide businesses a cost effective means
Emporium • Woody’s Restaurant EASt
of advertising to a broad area.
Alton: Ken’s Coins Auburn: Rusty Star
Antique Mall bEnlD: Benld Library • TJ’s
ZX Convenience Stop • Randy’s Market
TO COnTaCT THE BUZZ
Toni’s Restaurant bEthAlto: Dairy Queen
Eagles Nest Restaurant • El Mezcal Mexican
Restaurant • Homestead Flea Market • Imo’s
Email: [email protected]
Pizza • New China • Roma’s Pizza • Round 2
Website: www.thebuzzmonthly.com
Relics • Sweet Ashley’s Cottage • The Craft
www.Facebook.com/The Buzz Monthly
& Antique Mall • The Mail Box Store
brighton: Spring Garden Restaurant
Reflections Antiques bunkEr hill:
Function Junction Antiques & More • Jumpin’
Jimmys CArlinvillE: The Body Depot
Carlinville Hospital • Carlinville Library
PUBlIsHEr
Catholic Charities Thrift Shop • Cherry Tree
Treasures and Gifts •
Country Gypsy
Studio T • 573-368-6639
It Is What It Is Antiques & Collectibles
1110 N. Jefferson, Litchfield, IL 62056
Karla’s Jewelry • Lighthouse Antique Mall
www.StudioTOnline.com
Lisa’s Antiques & Collectables • Macoupin
County Courthouse • Magnolias Restaurant
ManagIng EdITOr/OWnEr
Magnuson Grand Hotel & Conference Center
Tara Cale • [email protected] Michelle’s Pharmacy • My Sister’s Closet
Refuge Coffee House • Remarkables Resale
Shoppe • Sievers Equipment CoFFEEn:
PrInTEr
Hair Designs CollinSvillE: Antiques
Breese Journal & Publishing Company
& Accents by Vadna • Champagne and Lace
Breese, IL • 618-526-7211
Bridal • Collinsville Area Recreation District
10 • Collinsville Public Library • Gateway RC
COnTrIBUTIng WrITErs
New China Restaurant • Rich’s Record Emporium • Shop-n-Save • Smoke Pit BBQ • Sizzor
Abby Dillon, Barbara Adams,
Shak Salon • Spirito’s Italian Store • Swing
Barbara Stuffington, Cindy Ladage,
City Music • Zapata’s Mexican Restaurant
Cheryl Eichar-Jett, DL Nunnally,
CottAgE hillS: Frank’s Restaurant
Twin Cities Restaurant DonnEllSon:
Jason Sibert, Jesse Gernigin,
JR’s Mini Mart • The Loose Caboose Antiques
Mike Makuta, Roger Kratochvil,
Petroski Windows, Doors & Floorcovering
Tom Emery
Wayside Antiques & Collectibles DorSEy:
Aljets Automotive
EDwArDSvillE:
WEB MasTEr
All Natural Pet Center • Edwardsville City
Hall • Edwardsville Public Library
getwebbed.net, inc. • 618-406-8376
Edwardsville Flea Market • Edwardsville
[email protected]
Frozen Foods • Jerry’s Tire Sales • Laurie’s
Place • Madison County Archival Library
Massage Luxe • Peel Pizza • Sacred Grounds
dIsTrIBUTIOn
Cafe • Red Barn Antiques • Sgt Peppers Cafe
Walters Distribution • 618-580-5542
Wang Gang Asian Eats FArMErSvillE:
The Silver Dollar Restaurant gillESpiE:
Copyright (c) 2016 by Studio T. Reproduction in
DeeDee’s Floral and Designs • Firehouse
whole or part without permission strictly prohibited.
Phone: 573-368-6639
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Salon • Furniture Rescue • Gillespie Public
Library • Kevin Polo Law Office • Michelle’s
Pharmacy • Miner’s Restaurant • Phyllbena’s
Antiques, Vintage & Repurposed • Randy’s
Market • Sullivan’s Drug Store • That Crazy
Fish Store and More • Wimanoma’s Pride
Antiques & Collectibles girArD: Doc’s
Soda Fountain • Kruse Automotive • Shell
glEn CArbon: Glen Carbon Library
Goodwill Retail Shop • Karma Clothing and
Accessories • My Treasure House • Our Health
Club Spa • Reality Salon and Spa • US Bank
goDFrEy: Round Table Restaurant • Shang
Hai House • The Craft & Antique Mall
grAnitE City: Apple Tree Restaurant
Central Laundry • Gateway Medical Center
Pharmacy • Grab-N-Go • Great Wall Chinese
Buffet • Goodwill • Jerry’s Cafeteria • K-Mart
Mama Mia’s Restaurant • Re.Viv.Al • Salvation Army Thrift Store • Treasures of the City
grEEnvillE: 2Marthas • Corner Cafe
Greenville Chamber of Commerce/ Tourism
Center • Pepin’s Country Store • State &
Ryder Furniture & Home Decor • Third Street
Market hAMEl: Poor Boys Portable Buildings and Amish Farmers Market • The Other
Place on the Hill • Weezy’s Bar & Grill
highlAnD: Broadway Bar & Grill • Urban
House Restaurant • The Chocolate Affair
The Giving Tree • Highland Nutrition Center
Highland’s Tru-Buy • Little Flower Religious
Store • Marx Brothers Lounge & Restaurant
Michael’s Restaurant • Peacock Bakery
Schuettes Super Value hillSboro: Books
& Moore • Gianni’s Italian Restaurant
Hillsboro Rental • Hillsboro Hospital • Lakeside Bar & Grill • The Dressing Room Consignment & Resale Shop • TCCU- Taylorville
Community Credit Union
holiDAy
ShorES: Behmes Market • Gilliganz Bar &
Grill
irving: Grandma’s Kitchen
JErSEyvillE: Beyond the Backyard Gate
Home Collectibles and Antique Mall
Jersevyville Community Hospital • JCH Hope
Chest Resale Store • Jerseyville Library
Linn’s Shoes • Lula Bells Gift Shop • Outrageous Outdoors • Ruby & Ellie’s Dollarama
State Street Antiques and Collectibles • State
Street Bar & Grill kEyESport: Dean’s
Convenience Mart litChFiElD: A&D
Electrical Supply • The Briar Rose • Capri
IGA • Casey’s on Union Ave • Denny’s
Restaurant • Diamond Trailer Sales • Fast
Stop Travel Center • The George Press
Hair 51 Salon & Tanning • Jubelt’s Bakery
Minndora’s Salon and Speciality Photography
Nelson Audiology • Ooh La La Decor & More
Park Place Jewelry • Petro Mart • ReRuns
Re-Sell-It • Route 66 Crafts and Collectibles
Shooter’s Retreat • Sportsman’s Choice Sporting Goods • St Francis Hospital Gift Shop
TCCU-Taylorville Community Credit Union
Time Out & Relaxation • Tots 2 Teens
Upscale Resale • UJs Convenience Store
livingSton: Christmas Decor & More
Store • Country Inn Cafe • Gasperoni’s Italian
Restaurant, Deli and Grocery • Pink Elephant
Antiques MAryvillE: ABRA Auto
Body • Grumpy Bob’s Emporium • Red Apple
Restaurant • Vintage 159 MEADowbrook: Homestead Craft & Flea Market
Round 2 Relics MillErSburg: Millersburg General Store MitChEll: Hen House
Restaurant Mt olivE: Crossroads Restaurant • From My House to Yours • Nepute’s
Market • Sunset Restaurant nokoMiS:
Demi’s Diner • Nokomis City Hall olD
riplEy: Sheila’s Resale ‘N Antiques
pAnAMA: Nu-Way Deli poCAhontAS:
Pocahontas Antiques • Powhatan Restaurant
Nuby’s Steakhouse • Village Square Antiques
pontoon bEACh: Feather My Nest
Uncle Linny’s Restaurant
rAyMonD:
Tosi’s Diner • Twisted Whiskers Antiques
ShipMAn: Cheney’s Market SorEnto:
Sorento Convenience Mart • Sorento Municipal Center StAunton: ALJETS Automotive • Animal Doctors - Steinmeyer Veterinary
Clinic • Cavataio’s Restaurant • First National
Bank • Glenwood Assisted Living • Heritage
Health Assisted Living • Itch’n to be Stitch’n
Jake’s Coffee • Mini Mall Quilt Shop
R & B’s Restaurant • Route 66 Storage & Flea
Market • Russell Furniture • Schweppes River
Fish Lounge • Staunton Hospital • Staunton
Medical Clinic • Staunton Public Library
Super 8 Motel • Vintage Station St. JACob:
Hometel Communications troy: Alfonzo’s
Pizzeria • Schuettes SuperValu • Troy Family
Restaurant • Wild Hair Family Hair Care
virDEn: Circle K Convenience Mart
Jamie’s - The Diamond Mine • Silvernicks
Unique Treasures • Sly Fox Bookstore
This-n-That
•
Wildflower
Patch
williAMSon: Shale Lake Winery
wooD rivEr: Cleary’s Shoes and Boots
Kumar’s Cafe • Mama Mias Restaurant
Riverbend Resale • Hing Wah worDEn:
Worden City Hall • Worden Public Library
AlwAyS onlinE at
www.thebuzzmonthly.com!
The Prairie land Buzz
www.thebuzzmonthly.com
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Editor’s notes
By Tara L. CaLe
Managing ediTor/owner
As I sit here today getting this issue of
The Prairie Land Buzz Magazine ready to
send to the printer, the sun is shining outside
and it is a gorgeous day! I’m hoping to be
able to get out there and at least take the dogs
for a walk. The winter was relatively mild,
soe we can’t complain about that. But I am
ready for spring! And I know you are too!
Spring always brings our AnnuAl
AntiQuE guiDE, and in fact, that will be
inserted in the next issue - April - as it always
is. So if you are an antique dealer or feature
antiques in your store and haven’t reserved
your space in this highly anticipated publication, give me a call today! Even if you are
out of our normal coverage area, the antique
map and guide does feature other counties
and towns, based on those wanting on the
map. Space is limited though so don’t delay!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I don’t have a lot of space here this month
but I do want to comment on one story
quickly, Family with a Side of Pancakes,
written by Dave Nunnally about Kumar’s
Kafe in Wood River.
In it Surinder kumar says, “My first job
was at IHOP (International House of
Pancakes) in 1977. I made $2.35 an hour,
worked 70 or 80 hours a week, didn’t own a
car or bicycle, so I walked three miles each
way to and from work every day.”
It just really struck a chord with me.
People often look at what you have now and
have no clue as to how you got there or the
struggles along the way. It just goes to show
you what hard work, perserverance, a good
attitude and keeping your eye on the bigger
picture can help you accomplish. Hats off to
you Surinder, and your entire family and
staff. You will find the story on page 20.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
There is so much happening this month!
Daylight Savings Time changes on Sunday,
March 13th. Don’t forget to set your clocks
ahead one hour before going to bed on Saturday, March 12th. Remember Spring
ForwArD, fall back (set your clocks back
one hour when it changes again in the fall).
St Patrick’s Day is on Thursday, March
17th and the first day of spring is that next
Sunday on March 20th, which is also Palm
Sunday, followed by Good Friday on March
The grandkids showing off their Easter egg hunting skills.
This is from 2014. They have grown so much since then!
25th, and finally Easter on Sunday, March
27th. By then I will be preparing the next
issue of The Buzz for you!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I also wanted to mention something that
has been rumored for quite some time is
finally happening in Litchfield... pub
DonEgAl is re-opening! The new owner
is Todd Iverson who also owns State Street
Grille in Jerseyville - you have probably seen
his ads here in The Buzz. In addition to great
food, Todd will be bringing some other great
things to this small Montgomery County
town, and that includes big name comedians
and live entertainment. We will keep you
updated as more details develop.
The scheduled opening date for Pub
Donegal is Thursday, March 10th. I know
there are a lot of people looking foward to
that. Make sure you stop in and welcome
Todd and his staff, and if you like what he
offers, patronize Pub Donegal often so they
can stick around for a long time!
Until April..... TLC
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i am a Teacher
An honorable profession
Part 4 of a 5 Part Series
By roger KraToCHViL
If you are on your toes you will notice
that we changed this from a 4 part series to
a 5 part series. There just was too much information still to conclude it this month. If
you have been tuned in to this series from the
beginning, you won’t mind. Because you will
realize that this series is very important and
deserves all the space needed in order to
complete it without being crowded. The 5th
part will conclude in the April issue of The
Prairie Land Buzz Magazine. Thank you for
reading, and for caring.....
Who were your best teachers? I bet most
of you remember your kindergarten or first
grade teachers the most. I strongly believe
that those teachers, along with your parents,
help form your feeling or attitude about
school. I think when you talk about those
teachers, then you use the words about
loving them. You do not see those words
used as you move through your educational
experience through high school. I think love
is then replaced by respected or liked. Or the
other extreme, disliked. As far as parents are
concerned, you can very clearly see the effect
that parents working with their children’s
educational needs at home have on them.
Reading to your kids is like boys wanting to
always play catch with their dad. It is the
right thing to do.
I believe that most students want an
orderly classroom so that they can learn.
A classroom where the teacher is not clearly
in charge has to be a temporary situation.
I used to ask teachers that I was interviewing
for a high school position if they thought
they could convince the students that they
knew what they were doing. Discipline in
a classroom comes in different shapes as
learning goes on in different environments.
When I first started in 1960, teachers used
to joke that a new teacher shouldn’t smile
until they were on the job for at least 6
months. That was a joke, but it was
absolutely necessary that the teacher be in
charge, with of course, an acceptable
method.
Also in my interviews, I used to encourage the teachers to have a sense of humor. if
possible. In my opinion, laughter is a valuable tool in teaching. It is also very valuable
if the teacher has not only a clear voice for
speaking, but also takes time to be a good
listener. For me, I am a fast talker. Do not
take that wrong! I had to learn to speak
slowly so that the students could understand
me. Of course, when a discipline situation
occurred, I sped up my conversation with
that student. Some of my most enjoyable
times as a teacher was listening to the students. For one thing, many of them are very
funny if you are listening. As a coach, when
we were talking batting practice, I used to
enjoy the talk of the players as they waited
to hit.
I never participated in those discussions except to offer coaching tips, but
enjoyed them. I still remember
I sure
the humor of some by name, and even those
who were funny, but were not trying to be
funny...great memories.
When you spend seven hours a day
with your students, and even longer when
you are coaching, you have a lot of great
memories. I will lose this someday, but I remember all of my students by name to this
day, and in many cases, I remember where
they sat in my classes. Some of my students
are now as old as 73, but in my mind they are
still my kids. This comes in handy as President of the Mt. Olive Schools Academic
Foundation these past 20 years, when we are
trying to point out where a former student fits
into a class.
As a teacher, you get only one crack
at preparing this young boy or girl for life
outside the school environment. You cannot
let up for any reason in educating them, because what you achieve or not achieve, will
affect that student for the rest of their life.
The legal term for the responsibility of a
teacher is “in loco parentis.” It is Latin for
“in place of the parent.” When the student is
at school you shall act as the parent and do
what is best for the student as a parent should
do. That is why a principal sits in when the
police are talking to a student. A good
teacher knows that a student has to be taught.
In some cases that student has to be helped
with grooming, nutritional needs, medical
needs, and social needs. The teacher wears
many hats. You ask any teacher, and especially a grade school teacher, and they will
tell you how many hats they have to wear.
And, they do it because they care and
because they know that a successful student
means a successful teacher. I am amazed at
how much they do.
Several years ago the Academic Foundation was asked to buy a storage container to
store donated clothing items so that some of
the students in need of a coat, etc. could be
provided. I once asked a high school student
of mine in a social problems class how he
was able to cook supper. It surprised me that
he had that ability, although today that is
probably not that unusual. The student simply answered, “If I don’t cook, I don’t eat.”
I could not imagine that. We always had a
cooked meal at home provided by a parent.
A lot of people don’t understand that
many teachers spend a lot of money out of
their own pockets for school supplies.
Several years ago, 1949 MOCHS graduate
and former vice president of the New York
Stock Exchange, Don Calvin, contacted me
about a donation to the foundation for the
students. He had read in U. S. News and
World Report that the average school teacher
spends about $300 a year out of their own
pocket for student oriented school expenses.
So, for several years in a row he donated that
amount for each class teacher to reimburse
them. I thought then, as I do now, that was
an excellent idea. Sadly, Mr. Calvin passed
away this year.
As I referred earlier in this column,
I
polled a number of principals. They are the
evaluators of teachers and I wanted to know
what they expected of a good teacher. One
principal simply said that “a good teacher is
first and foremost student centered.” “If a
teacher is student-centered many of the other
attributes can be taught in order to attain an
effective teacher.”
It is interesting that it takes a very unique
person to become a teacher. I have a number
of people tell me that they could not be
a teacher. I am sure that is the same attitude
about a lot of professions. I know one thing,
and that is, that you have to be devoted to
what you are trying to achieve. There is a
sort of relief for parents when their children
become old enough for school. We all realize that when children are home it is a full
time job to be a parent. When they go to
school, the parents can, for a short time, get
away from that responsibility to give it to the
teacher. The same is true that when a teacher
has had a number of children in their class
every day for basically nine months, then
June is welcomed by them so that they can
sort of recharge their batteries. Usually, parents are glad when school starts in August
and I think most teachers are too. I know
I was always ready to go back. Each year is
a new experience as you now are involved in
teaching different children. It is a new challenge and you always hope for the best.
Another one said that if you ask a student
about their teachers, ”they are quick to tell
you if they are good or not.” Of course,
sometimes their opinion changes from day to
day, or from situation to situation. He went
on to say that there are three hallmarks to
identify good teachers. The first is to set the
bar high for expectations of learning. The
second is that a good teacher is through differentiated instruction. Not all students learn
in the same way. It is important for teachers
to find out how their individual students
learn. Lastly, a good teacher builds positive
relationships with students, parents, and others. If a teacher take a genuine interest in students as people, this builds credibility and
students are more apt to want to learn from
them.
Another principal said a good teacher is
a goal setter. An excellent teacher utilizes the
resources available and makes something
special out of nothing. Excellent teachers
take an extra minute to help a student who
may be having a bad day, and taking extra
time to work through a situation that is
maybe not a positive one, showing enthusiasm when a child is sharing with them
a moment that meant something to the child,
or being there when the student is struggling
or hurting. An excellent teacher is always
a positive factor in the student’s life when
maybe that student does not have any other
positives in their life.
Roger Kratochvil was born and raised in
White City. He has a Masters Degree in Secondary Education, History and Educational Administration. A social studies teacher, high school
football coach, basketball and baseball coach for
the Mt. Olive High School. for 34 years. He also
served as a St. Louis Cardinal Scout for over
20 years. Roger is now a speaker specializing
in sports, labor history, education and local
history. You can contact Roger via email at
[email protected].
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Carlinville’s geriatric
theatre Schedules Auditions
for How The West Was Dun
Marge
Deffenbaugh
Director
announced that Carlinville-based Geriatric Theatre will conduct auditions for
How The West Was Dun on Thursday,
March 24, 2016. Auditions will start at
6:30 in the Carlinville Public Library.
Rather than do a cold reading at the auditions, actors may borrow the script books
from the library ahead of time, with a
five-day limit.
Geriatric Theatre, the senior division
of Summer Repertory Theatre at Blackburn College, was established 15 years
ago as a way to attract and put a spotlight
on senior talent in and around the Carlinville area. The troupe’s specialty has
been comedy and farce, “fun for the entire
family,” as co-founder, the late John Russell of Carlinvill, described it. A general
guideline is that actors should be age 50
or older, but younger performers appear
in the productions when scripts call for
younger characters.
How The West Was Dun (. . . or Left
High and Dry in Low Humidity Chasm)
includes 23 parts, 10 for females and 13
for males. The action takes place in and
around Dry Gulch (i.e., “Low Humidity
Chasm”), a dusty Western town full of interesting, mean, strange, flaky, funny, and
highly quirky characters. According to
Deffenbaugh, “It’s a classic but farcical
battle of the bad guys versus the good
guys. In fact, we have one character who
is both, simply by changing hats.”
Once the March 24 auditions are over,
Deffenbaugh will make her callbacks on
March 29. The first rehearsal will take
place on April 7 at Bothwell Auditorium
on the Blackburn College campus.
Deffenbaugh, of Chatham, has been
involved with Geriatric Theatre since
2003, taking over as managing artistic director in 2006. She has considerable experience both in acting and managing and
in directing the Chatauqua Company in
Carlinville in the early 1980’s. She also
directed plays and musicals at Carlinville
High School.
Deffenbaugh’s philosophy is simple:
“Anybody can act. Of course, most firsttime actors need coaching and some support, and that’s precisely what we try to
do during auditions and rehearsals once
the cast has been set. I always like to have
a mix of experienced talent and newcomers. The veterans are able to guide the
newer actors and set an example for them
in terms of delivering lines, position on
stage, posture and body language, facial
expression, and all of the other elements
that make for a convincing performance.
And as they grow during the process, it’s
satisfying to see the progress that the firsttimers make. There’s a nice bond that
forms at rehearsals and it gets stronger as
time goes on, then reaches its high point
during the performances.”
While Deffenbaugh encourages auditions for those who would like to bring
their talents to the stage, she adds that
a good way for some prospective actors to
get a start is to work first as a crew member. “We always need volunteers to help
with sets, costumes, lighting, sound,
props, and other backstage elements.
Doing this kind of work makes them a big
part of the play and gives them a chance
to see what acting itself is all about.”
Contact Deffenbaugh at 217-483-4135
with questions.
How The West Was Dun will be performed in the evening on Thursday, June
23, Friday, June 24, and Saturday, June
25, and as a matinee on Sunday, June 26.
Performances will be in Bothwell Auditorium. Exact times and location of ticket
outlets will be announced in the near future. Tickets are $12 per person for all
ages.
irish in illinois
Cut a Path to History
By ToM eMery
In Illinois on St. Patrick’s Day, there is
green in abundance. And plenty of Irish eyes
are smiling.
As one of the state’s leading ethnic
groups, Irish-Americans in the Land of Lincoln have left their mark across the state in
the last 175 years. Their influence extends
well beyond the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in
Chicago, one of the largest in the nation.
Some 600,000 Irish immigrated to America between 1820 - 1840, many of them landing in Illinois. Still others came after the
potato famines of 1846-48 that decimated
their homeland. The number of Irish in Illinois rose from 27,800 in 1850 to 87,600
a decade later, second only to Germans as the
state’s largest immigrant group.
Most Irish came to their new home with
nothing, and had to work from the ground up.
They found work in the mines of northwestern Illinois, as well as on the Illinois Central
Railroad.
Irish also played an integral role in the
construction of the Illinois-and-Michigan
Canal. There, they benefitted from a severe
labor shortage that induced organizers to
recruit the poor of Ireland to leave their
country for the jobs.
Some Irish canal workers used their scrip
to buy land along the canal as well as in Peoria. In 1850, an estimated one-third of Irish
were engaged in agriculture in Illinois,
despite their recent failures back home.
Irish also flocked to Chicago in large
numbers, comprising 20 percent of the city’s
population in 1850 and 31 percent of foreignborn Chicagoans overall. In 1860, Chicago
was the fourth-largest Irish city in the United
States.
In the big city, some Irish men found
work in the stockyards, steel mills, and lumber operations. Irish women worked menial
jobs like cleaning and laundry, though there
were uneasy relations with other immigrants.
Many Irish also viewed free blacks, who
were relegated to similarly low social standing, as economic threats.
In the Civil War, some 12,000 Irish
fought for Illinois, including the 90th Illinois
Volunteer Infantry, seventy percent of whose
men were born in Ireland. Not surprisingly,
the 90th was nicknamed the “Irish Legion”
and carried a distinctive green flag displaying an Irish harp and shamrocks. Also in the
field was the 23rd Illinois Infantry, one of
several Civil War units to call themselves the
“Irish Brigade.”
Nineteen years prior to the Civil War,
Abraham Lincoln nearly engaged in a celebrated duel with James Shields, an Irish immigrant and political foe. Shields later
became the only man to serve as United
States Senator from three separate states –
Illinois, Missouri, and Minnesota. He was
hardly the only Irishman to oppose Lincoln,
as Irish tended to vote Democratic.
By 1890, Illinois had the fourth-highest
percentage of Irish immigrants of any state.
Some were doing quite well for themselves,
including William Scully, an Irishman who
had amassed 211,000 acres of land by the
1880s. Edward Dunne, one of several
Chicago mayors of Irish descent, was elected
governor of Illinois in 1912.
On the other side was the hapless Catherine O’Leary, a resident of south Chicago
whose cow allegedly kicked over a lantern
that sparked the devastating Chicago Fire of
1871. Years later, a Chicago Tribune
reporter admitted that he made up the story.
Mrs. O’Leary may have been a convenient
scapegoat, based on the prevailing low opinion of Irish immigrants.
At the turn of the century, some 73,912
Irish were living in Chicago, and were enjoying higher social status. Police and fire
departments were routinely dotted with Irish,
while others were rising in city government.
Many hospitals and schools also felt the
influence of the Irish.
Many Irish-Americans in Illinois, as elsewhere, longed for Irish independence from
Great Britain and periodically protested English rule, particularly when Ireland remained
under British control after World War I.
Ireland finally achieved independence in
1922, a celebrated event in the Illinois Irish
community. During Prohibition, Irish-controlled syndicates sought to keep illegal
liquor flowing in Chicago and elsewhere.
According to 2007 Census figures, some
201,836 of Irish ancestry reside in Chicago,
the city’s largest European ethnic group. The
Mount Greenwood neighborhood on the
city’s southwest side is over 40 percent Irish.
Today, Illinois residents of Irish ancestry,
as well as those who wish they were, have
made St. Patrick’s Day one of the most economically viable holidays on the calendar,
celebrating statewide with various festivals,
parades, and parties.
Tom Emery is a freelance writer and historical researcher from Carlinville, Ill. He may
be reached at 217-710-8392 or ilcivilwar@
yahoo.com.
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The Brinkerhoff House at 1500 North Fifth Street in Springfield.
All photos by Cheryl Eichar Jett.
The Thomas House, located on the frontage
road east of I-55, north of Farmersville.
Along Route 66
architect of Conflict:
elijah Myers and his Landmarks
along route 66
wriTTen By CHeryL eiCHar-JeTT
Architect Elijah E. Myers was known in
the late 1800s not only for his prolific and
talented designs, but also for conflict, cost
overruns, and litigation. Although Myers'
architectural career spanned the decades of
the late 1800s, long before the Route 66 era,
five of his buildings became landmarks along
the Mother Road in Central Illinois. Those
five buildings stood sentinel throughout the
Route 66 era and still stand, a reminder of an
earlier time.
On the 1926-1930 alignment, there is the
Brinkerhoff House on North Fifth Street in
Springfield, and in Carlinville, the Macoupin
County Courthouse, the Macoupin County
Jail, and the St. George/Loomis House Hotel.
On the later alignment of Route 66, there is
the Thomas House north of Farmersville.
Myers was born in Pennsylvania, but
began his architectural practice in Springfield, Illinois, in the early 1860s. After the
scandal of the “Million Dollar Courthouse”
in Carlinville, he moved his architecture
business to Michigan. The Carlinville Courthouse, which cost almost three times as much
as his original estimate, and the Texas State
Capitol, from which he was eventually fired,
were two of Myers' most scandalous projects.
But there are two magnificent Myers
designs in our area that were not known for
cost overruns, missed deadlines, or scandals.
These two buildings are the Thomas Home
north of Farmersville and the Brinkerhoff
Home in Springfield. Both were constructed
as private residences in the 1860s, 50 years
before Route 66 was designated. And,
incredibly, they both still stand 90 years after
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March 2016
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the 1926 birth of Route 66.
The Lewis H. Thomas home was
designed in 1863 and completed in 1865 in
what is now known as Bois d'Arc Township,
north of Farmersville. Lewis was born in
Greene County, Illinois, and came to his future home site in the 1850s. He is remembered as an innovator in Illinois agriculture
and is credited with establishing the use of
hedge on Illinois farms. He acquired 670
acres and went to work planting timber. As
his timber grew to maturity, he used his own
firewood for the fires to cast 3,000 bricks
with which to construct his home. The
Thomas residence was one of architect
Myers' early design commissions, and he
held to the $30,000 cost estimate.
The huge residence was designed in Victorian style with three stories over a full basement. In 1888, a fire did extensive damage to
the home. It was rebuilt in Italian villa style
and the cupola was added or extended at that
time. A closeup look at the front of the house
(which faces south, not west toward the
interstate) reveals a stone plaque over the
front entrance bearing the date “1888.”
Lewis Thomas died in 1909, and ownership
changed hands several times. The house was
unoccupied for a couple decades during the
mid-1900s. It was placed on the National
Register of Historic Places in 1974.
In 1991, Jim and Punkin McClelland purchased the house and small acreage.
“Punkie's Palace” soon offered an antique
mall, tours of the old Thomas residence, and
bed-and-breakfast stays. The McClellands
embarked on extensive renovation of the
house. A 1939 fire had done a small amount
of damage to the tower area and another fire
during the McClellands' tenure precipitated
more work in that area. A quick glance at the
tower shows a brick facade that is clearly different from the 1860s hand-cast brick of the
rest of the house. Punkie McClelland died in
2008 and the house now sits eerily empty.
She was buried on the property.
The George M. Brinkerhoff home was
constructed in 1869-1870 at 1500 North Fifth
Street in Springfield. Like the Thomas home,
it was built as a private residence. Brinkerhoff was a successful businessman and capitalist. He first taught at Springfield's Illinois
State University, next worked in the Illinois
State Auditor's office, and then became City
Comptroller. He was also a founder of the
Springfield Iron Company and the Springfield City Railway Company.
Unlike the Thomas house, the Brinkerhoff
residence was constructed with a tower as
part of its original design. However, this
home, like the Thomas home, was constructed of red brick. The design of the twoand-a-half story L-shaped house was Italian
Villa, with some Gothic Revival adornments.
The tower was originally four stories, but
was shortened in 1960.
After Brinkerhoff's death in 1928, the
home became part of the newly-founded
Springfield Junior College. The college grew
up around the handsome residence and later
became Springfield College in Illinois and
then Benedictine University at Springfield.
The former residence was used for everything from a dormitory to classrooms.
In the 1970s, Doris Bucari, a college
trustee, led the charge to save the badly
deteriorated building. Brinkerhoff Inc., a notfor-profit corporation, was formed in 1977
and a group of volunteers formed the
Brinkerhoff Auxiliary. In 1978, Springfield
historian Edward Russo prepared the National Register of Historic Places application.
A slow but thorough restoration period
followed. The Brinkerhoff Foundation,
which replaced the earlier organizations, took
control of the building, held fundraising
events, obtained grant funding, and was able
to offer the home for weddings, receptions,
and other events. But in January 2013, Benedictine University took control of the
The St. George/Loomis House Hotel
in Carlinville.
Brinkerhoff House due to growing student
enrollment.
At the same time that the Brinkerhoff
House was being constructed in Springfield,
a trio of designs by Myers was built in Carlinville. These were the Macoupin County
Courthouse - the so-called “Million Dollar
Courthouse,” the Macoupin County Jail, and
the St. George/Loomis House Hotel.
In the 1860s, four city leaders in Carlinville, Alexander McKim Dubois, George
H. Holliday, Thaddeus. L. Loomis, and
Isham J. Peebles, were commissioned to plan
for a new courthouse. The four men selected
Myers as the architect. They also determined
that the construction project was not to be undertaken until the county treasury contained
sufficient funds. Bonds were issued, a property tax was assessed, and work began on the
project. But a building that was supposed to
cost $500,000 was not completed when that
amount of money had been spent. More
funding was needed to finish the structure
and erect the dome. More bonds were issued
and the final total came in at $1,342,226.31.
In addition to the huge cost overrun, Loomis
and Holliday were tainted by rumors of scandal involving misappropriation of funds.
The three-story courthouse was built in
the Beaux Arts style. It was constructed of
limestone with large porticos on the north
and south sides. It is most notable for its large
dome topped with a cupola, and for its size,
one of the largest courthouses in the United
States at the time of its construction.
The Macoupin County Jail, another
Myers design, was built across the street
from the courthouse. The jail, however, did
not match the courthouse in design. The
Gothic Revival jail was constructed of stone
with left-over Civil War cannon balls built
into the walls. A scalloped parapet and multiple arched windows completed the look of
a fortress. The jail was used until 1988, when
a new one was constructed. A local group is
conducting fund raising efforts for restoration of the jail, and tourism efforts are
expected to result in the jail being open to
visitors.
The third of Myers designs in Carlinville
was the St. George Hotel. In 1870, the elegant French Second Empire opened for business on the east side of the square. The hotel
The “Million Dollar Courthouse” in Carlinville.
boasted 50 well-appointed rooms, and the
establishment played host to politicians,
businessmen, and high rollers. The owners
were George Holliday and Judge Thaddeus
Loomis. When the facade was faced with the
same limestone as the courthouse, Loomis
and Holliday were undoubtedly pronounced
guilty in the minds of the town's citizens.
Holliday was said to be last seen waiting
for a ride out of town, never to be heard from
again. Loomis outlasted the scandal, hanging
on to his hotel - but not for long. When his
finances failed, the financial firm of Chester
The Macoupin County Jail is across the street from the courthouse.
and Dubois took it over. Over the years, the
hotel has had numerous owners and suffered
deterioration and disrepair. Despite its checkered past, it still stands proudly on the Carlinville Square. Although the upper floors
have not been used for decades-and are said
to be haunted-the first floor retail spaces are
occupied.
Elijah Myers is considered to be a major
architect of the late 1800s and perhaps the
most prolific American architect of public
buildings. Besides many additional residences in Springfield (most of which are
now gone), he went on to design many public
buildings, including courthouses and state
capitols, in Illinois, Michigan, Texas, and
Colorado. Despite the struggle and the scandal associated with his Carlinville designs,
we are lucky to have five of his outstanding
buildings still standing, along Route 66.
Cheryl Eichar Jett is the author of numerous
books and articles on Route 66 and also serves as
President of Blue Carpet Corridor. You can reach
her at cheryleicharjett@ gmail.com and follow
her travels at www.route66chick.blogspot.com.
I March 2016
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13
IL-Solar installed this array for Vinctory Lane Ford in Litchfield.
Powered
By THe Sun
Locally owned IL-Solar is fastest growing
full-service distributor, installer and integrator of
renewable and energy saving products in central Illinois.
BY Tara l. CalE
Are you one of the multitudes that are
concerned and frustrated over the skyrocketing cost of energy? The average electric rate
has increased over 50% in the last ten years!
Many people are already taking steps toward
energy conservation and are also considering
renewable options with the ultimate goal of
energy independence and sustainability right
on their own properties. IL-Solar, owned by
David Ronen and Michael Putnam, can help.
IL-Solar can help you reduce and conserve energy, replace and upgrade to newer,
more efficient products (LED lighting) and
become more energy independent by using
solar energy.
“I have always tried to stay ahead of the
competition by finding the latest technologies. The most recent addition to our company’s offerings is solar,” David said.
“In addition to installing it for businesses and
homeowners across the state and even into
other states, we use solar in our own business.”
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According to the magazine Wired, Solar
Power is exploding in the United States,
adding tons of jobs, driving progressive policies, and attracting millions of dollars in
investments from major corporations. Data
from market analysis firm GTM Research
found that 2014 was solar’s biggest year
ever, with 30 percent more photovoltaic
installations installed than in 2013. And
Ronen doesn’t anticipate to slow down.
“This is going to be a boom year for solar,
it’s just starting to hit,” he said.
Solar energy not only allows businesses
and homeowners the opportunity to cut their
electric costs in half or even more, but also
the potential to make a profit, by creating additional energy that can be sold.
How does this work? Although a bit
more complex than this explanation, this will
give you the basics. Solar cells, or photovoltaic cells in panels are installed strategically to absorb light from the sun. Solar
energy excites the electrons in the solar cell
and electricity is produced in the form of direct current (DC). Direct current is not useable for most common purposes however, so
DC power is transformed through an inverter
to alternating current (AC) at 120 Volt,
a common-use voltage. It is now ready for
distribution to household applications. And
since your panels are grid-tied into a main
power grid system, excess energy that you do
not use is fed back into the grid, allowing you
to become a green contributor to a public
utility (who banks or buys the excess energy)
as SRECs, or Solar Renewable Energy
Credit.
SRECs are shares of money allocated by
the state for generation which pay dividends
to those who install the panels. But solar installers/suppliers must bid on the SRECs, and
for every meg (megawatt) that is generated,
the owner of the panel receives an SREC.
“You have to have certain qualifications
to bid into these incentives, and we are one
of those who can and have bid in,” explained
Ronen. “The level of money paid per SREC
to solar users depends on the company that
bid on the credits. We bid to the state, the
state pays us, and we pay the supplier (customers owning the solar panels). We pay
quarterly.”
Ronen said that some competitors were
quoting $110/meg but IL-Solar is paying at
$160-$170 per megawatt.
In addition to being compensated for solar
renewable energy credits, there is a 30% federal tax credit incentive, and you get to keep
the power you make to use at your own home
or business. That doesn’t mean you will have
a $0 electric bill however. Your incumbent
electric company (Ameren, etc) will still bill
you for meter fees, customer charges, etc,
but... the less power you use from them
(because now much of your power is from
solar), the lower those charges will be.
To illustrate the savings and potential
profit that can come from installing a solar
system, imagine an average home of a 40
panel array that costs around $20,000 to
install. The very first year you can recoup
50% of that investment through the federal
energy credit, the Illinois Solar Rec (SREC)
program and in savings on your power bill.
The remaining $10,000 will be recouped at
an estimated rate of 25% each year over the
next 4 years. Starting with year 5, your investment is paid for and you are now only
saving and making money. By year 12 you
are $20,000 ahead. On a larger scale, imagine a big company that spends $250,000 for
an install. In just 10 years, that company can
be 1.3 million dollars ahead!
IL-Solar has installed systems in Litchfield at Worksaver, Victory Lane Ford, Litchfield Schools and for various homeowners.
Installs in Springfield include Friendly
Chevrolet, Honda of Illinois, Slumberland
Furniture and Ace Sign Company. Clients
also include Laughlin Farms in Panama,
Schluckibeir Farms in Donnellson, RP Lumber in Eldon, Troy, Clinton and Osage Beach,
Missouri and Power Trans Plus, owned by
Bob Konkel in DuBois. Konkel is now
a dealer-affiliate for IL-Solar as well. His
6kW solar array can easily be seen at the
intersection of Highway 51 and DuBois
Blacktop.
IL-Solar also installed an 18 kW system
at A&D Electric in Litchfield, a company
Ronen co-owns with his parents, Dennis and
Andrea Ronen. This system provides about
40% of their electricity usage. The DCEO
Renewable Energy Resources Program covered 25% of the project cost and with federal
tax credits, the system will pay for itself in
about 11 years. Although solar panels are
often installed on roofs, A&D located their
solar panels in the parking lot so as not to
interfere with roof maintenance and to make
it easier to keep dust and snow off the panels
so they work more efficiently. They were
also able to orient the panels towards the
south, while the roof faces east and west.
“The credits and incentives are to the
point now that a system can pay for itself in
as little as 3-5 years. Even sooner for farm-
IL-Solar installed this 18 kW system at A&D Electric in Litchfield. The system provides
about 40% of their electricity usage. The DCEO Renewable Energy Resources Program
covered 25% of the project cost and with federal tax credits, the system will pay for itself in
about 11 years. The solar panels were installed in the parking lot so as not to interfere
with roof maintenance and to make it easier to keep dust and snow off the panels so they
work more efficiently. A recent solar panel array installed in Irving is pictured below.
ers, as solar panels are a 100% depreciable
asset,” Ronen said.
“Every person we have shown the pay off
information illustration to that is involved in
finances in any way such as insurance
agents, CPAs and bankers are now installing
these solar panels in their homes and at their
businesses.”
But he warns that the SRECs from Illinois
that make this such an attractive proposition
are limited. “When they’re gone, they’re
gone,” and encourages anyone interested to
contact him or Konkel soon.
IL-Solar, Inc. is the fastest growing fullservice distributor, installer and integrator of
renewable and energy saving products, serving central Illinois. They use only top-ofthe-line quality products including sturdy
steel mounts and panels with a 25 year warranty. Even so, final costs are sometimes half
of what competing companies charge.
Ronen takes pride in consistent monitoring of all systems IL-Solar installs to ensure
they are always working property and at peak
efficiency. That commitment is backed by
over 31 years of service to the community
and surrounding areas by A&D Electric.
“Unfortunately Missouri has a ton of
solar panels in place but probably 30% of
more of them are not even working and no
one knows because they are not being mon-
itored,” Ronen explained. “The companies
that sold them and installed them are no
longer in business. You don’t have to worry
about that with us. We’ve been here for over
30 years and plan on being here for more
than 30 more.”
“Conceivably, homeowners can cut their
electric bill in half or more by using solar,”
he continued. “And with the return on investment being only 3-5 years, you really
can’t find a much better deal out there than
that. Plus you will be contributing to the environment by helping produce100% clean,
renewable energy.”
To find out more about IL-Solar, Inc. before all the SRECs are gone, call Ronen at
217-254-2823 or Konkel at 618-787-2117 or
800-421-3858. More information can also
be found at www.IL-Solar.com.
I March 2016
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Cleaning at a
whole new Level
Above: From left to right Wayde Armes - online auction manager, Pat Miller - owner
of ReRuns Re-Sell-It, Butch Robinette - #1 salesman, Greg Nimmo auctioneer and
Gab Snow - internet sales. Below: An example of some of the unique items you can find at
ReRuns Re-Sell-It - hand carved stone eskimo art and an antique treadle sewing machine.
ReRuns Re-Sell-It in Litchfield expands
to add MLM Property Clean Up
BY Tara l. CalE
If you are a resale junky like I am than
you have probably already discovered ReRuns Re-Sell It, the newest resale shop in
Litchfield. Owned by Pat and Michelle
Miller, the business opened this past July at
817 Union Ave, in the former Action Power
Sports building (Next to Aaron’s). As with
most resale shops, ReRuns Re-Sell-It always
has an eclectic collection of antiques, vintage, collectibles, household items, tools and
toys. They also carry furniture, appliances,
outdoor items and sporting goods. Stop by
any given day, even just to browse, and your
trip will most likely be rewarded with
a unique find. And when you find that something you like, don’t go home to think about
purchasing it. Chances are that item will be
gone when you return - I speak from experience!
Both Millers have full time jobs outside
of the resale shop, so they are always very
busy, but that has not stopped them from
expanding their business, even with less than
a year under their proverbial belts.
The Millers have partnered with Greg
Nimmo, a well known realtor/auctioneer to
offer online and on-site estate sale auctions.
They have also added Wayde Armes to the
mix, bringing several years of experience in
auction management. Armes will serve as
the online auction manager. In addition, the
Millers have added property clean up under
the name MLM Property Clean Up.
“While out in the field we found that families that are just overwhelmed with the task
of liquifying personal property - including
real estate - and need help,” Pat explained.
Michelle added, “Life transitions can
really throw you for a loop. Whether you’re
facing a major move, downsizing to accommodate an updated lifestyle or dealing with
the death of a loved one, there is often
decades of things to sort through. And what
do you do with everything? This is not only
physically draining but often emotionally
overwhelming as well. That’s where we step
in.”
The combination of services offered by
Pat and Michelle with Wayde and Greg blend
perfectly together to provide customers with
a complete package. Instead of hiring one
company to handle the estate sale, another to
sell the property and yet another to clean up
the property, Greg Nimmo Auctions and
MLM Property Clean Up handles it all.
“We meet with the customer and do
a walk through of the home first to determine
what will meet their needs best, helping them
decide if they want to do an online or on-site
auction,” Armes explained. “During this
time we explain advertising, labor costs,
commissions and other details such as the
possibility of dumpster rental, buyers premiums, etc.”
If a traditional auction is determined to be
the most beneficial for the client, Greg
Nimmo Auctions is in charge at that point.
If the auction will be on-line, it will be under
the management of Armes.
“With online auctions we usually have an
on-site preview for one days prior to the sale,
usually a Saturday and Sunday, so interested
buyers can see the items in person and decide
if they want to bid on them,” Armes added.
“Then the items will be assigned a number,
or sold in a lot, and put online. Bidding usually lasts for around 10 days, but that depends on the size of the sale. After bidding
closes the time will be announced that the
winning bidders can pick up their items.”
“Something to mention to people that
may be faced with this situation is first of all,
don’t wait 5 years after the fact to have an
auction,” Armes said. “During all this time
you are paying taxes and insurance on the
property, it’s not being maintained properly,
items are getting old and dusty - you’re losing money every day it sits. Call us right
away. And don’t box things up - we will just
have to unbox them.”
It’s important to realize also that sometimes an auction is not feasible, in that it may
cost more to put on the auction than the profit
it would generate. In that case MLM Property Clean Up will make an offer to buy all
of the items for one price outright, and clean
up the property.
Although the prior detailed scenarios are
more for an entire estate, MLM Property
Clean Up can handle smaller scale projects
as well. Maybe your basement, garage or
attic has gotten out of hand. Perhaps you
have a storage unit that you haven’t even
looked in for a number of years. Maybe
you’ve just accumulated too much over the
years and need help de-cluttering. They can
even clean up your back yard if that is what
you need. They also offer construction site
clean up.
“The bottom line is that we can be your
one solution for organizing, down sizings,
property liquidation and property clean-up,”
Michelle explained. “Give us a call and find
out what we offer. We are here to help you
with compassionate, professional and affordable services. And consultations are always
free.”
To find out more about MLM Property
Clean Up, Call 217-246-8768 or stop by ReRuns Re-Sell-It at 817 W. Union Avenue in
Litchfield. You can also find them on Facebook at Facebook.com/ReRuns Re-Sell It
and Facebook.com/ReRuns Estate Sales.
Thanks Sam! :-)
I March 2016
I 17
Buzzin’ Around the Kitchen
Mother Sauces vs
Small Sauces
By BarBara STuffingTon
Let’s chat sauces. There are five mother
sauces in French cooking and its kind of like
a movie today - if you look through the
works of Shakespeare you will find the same
plot. Meaning, its all been done before, and
what we have today is a slight twist on an
older plot.
béchamel is a sauce traditionally made
by melting a quantity of butter, and adding
flour to make a roux, which is cooked under
gentle heat while stirring with a whisk. As it
is a white sauce, care must be taken not to
brown the roux. Heated milk is gradually
whisked in, and the sauce is cooked until
thickened and smooth. The proportion of
roux and milk determines the thickness of the
sauce.
Espagnole is a classic brown sauce,
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March 2016
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typically made from brown stock (made
from beef bones), mirepoix (carrots, onion
and celery), and tomatoes, and thickened
with roux.
hollandaise is an emulsion of egg
yolk and melted butter, usually seasoned
with lemon juice, salt, and a little pepper. It
is light yellow, opaque, smooth and creamy.
tomato sauce is a little more involved
than one would think when you open a jar of
tomato sauce. It is reduced in the oven to
give even heat with out scorching and
flavored with meat stock and bones.
veloute sauce is very similar to
béchamel, but it replaces the milk with
chicken stock. Chicken stock is by far the
most versatile and subtle choice for a
veloute, but beef or fish stock can also be
used with equal results.
So basically the five mother sauces are
white, brown, egg yellow, red and chicken
yellow sauce.
Other sauces are called “small sauces”.
For instance, you make a béchamel, add
cheese and you have Alfredo. That’s a small
sauce. You can make a veloute and add
chicken and noodles or chicken and
dumplings. See how this goes?
Let Barbie throw in a small gripe here.
I keep hearing about this pink sauce. It is
probably the work of someone working with
boiling water, a whisk and powdered sauces.
Me thinks he or she got bored and thought
hmmm, what happens if I mix these two
together… I will call it pink. It’s a small
sauce yes but you should question its
provenance.
As always, take these basic recipes, put
your own twist on them and make your own
small sauce. Have fun creating!
Find me on Facebook:
Barbie Stuffington!
The Book Buzz
great observers...
great writers
By BarBara adaMS
Great writers are first great observers.
They observe nature. They observe their fellow man. They observe the human condition.
And then they have the ability to condense,
connect and crystallize those observations in
their writings so the reader is able to see
things as the writer does. We walk by the
pieces of life's jigsaw puzzle in our daily
lives but the great writer takes those pieces
and puts the puzzle together so that the
reader can see a larger, fuller, more complete
picture.
One of the most popular observers of the
human mind was Oliver Sachs. Sachs, a neurologist, became a household name when his
book Awakenings was made into a movie of
the same name starring Robin Williams and
Robert DeNiro. His books were entertaining
and enlightening accounts of his most inter-
esting cases of unusual conditions that afflict
the human brain. His book, The Man Who
Mistook His Wife For A Hat, also found
a wide popular audience. Sachs was treated
for a melanoma in his right eye in 2006 and,
in January of 2015, metastisized cancer was
found elsewhere in his body. Knowing he
had but months to live, Sachs managed to
write his autobiography, On The Move: A
Life, and his last inspiring work entitled
Gratitude. Gratitude is a series of four essays
written during those final months and published after his death. It is a gentle and profound read; it is the crystallization of a life
full of observations about the human mind
and the gratitude Sachs had for a life lived
well.
Understandably, like Sachs showed,
knowing that death is imminent heightens
one's awareness of life. Paul Kalanithi,
a young neurosurgeon, trained to treat
patients with complex,
life-threatening conditions, found himself diagnosed with Stage IV
lung cancer at age 36.
Stunningly, Kalanithi
had always wanted to be
a writer but succumbed
to the calling to be
a physician. However, he
always contemplated that
he would write at some
time later in his medical
career. He was writing
When Breath Becomes Air
when he died in March
2015. His now bestselling
memoir is his examination
of "what makes life worth living?" The book
chronicles his young life, his studies, and his
training as a neurosurgeon, and, when he
reaches the point where he was treating
patients, how the doctor became the patient.
This work is an inspiring reflection on life,
on relationships, on knowledge, and on time.
With a Foreward by a fellow doctor whom
Kalanithi had sought out about writing this
book, to the Afterword by his wife, When
Breath Becomes Air is a memorable work.
On a lighter note, another keen observer
of the world and those that inhabit it is the
one and only Bill Bryson. Bryson's slightly
eclectic and highly entertaining books have
taken his readers with him to the
Appalachian Trail (A Walk In The Woods:
Rediscovering America on the Appalachian
Trail), Great Britain (Notes from a Small
Island), Australia (In A Sunburned Country),
back in time to his childhood (The Life and
Times of the Thunderbolt Kid) and back to
the year 1927 (One Summer: America 1927).
In his newest work, The Road To Little Dribbing: Adventures of an American in Britain,
Bryson returns to Britain twenty years after
his Notes from a Small Island to have another
look at the best and worst of the country as
he travels from one end of the country to the
other just as he did in 1995. Bryson has
a peculiar knack for finding, and describing,
the oddest and quirkiest things that make
Britain, well, Britain. Bryson's books aren't
life-changing; they are simply light and
entertaining; easy to pick up and easy to put
down. But, if you have enjoyed any of
Bryson's earlier works, you'll enjoy
The Road To Little Dribbing.
To be a successful news reporter, one
would have to be a keen observer of events,
big and small; of people, both prominent and
common; and of cultures, both foreign and
domestic. One of the finest reporters of this
generation is NBC's Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel, who has just
released his third bestselling book about his
time covering events in Irag, And Then All
Hell Broke Loose: Two Decades in the Middle East. Engel, who reports regularly from
middle east war zones and battlefields,
recounts his twenty years of reporting from
some of the most volatile and dangerous
places in the world. His story reads like, and
is, a real life adventure tale, from the perspective of a trained observer reporting from
the frontlines of history. If you are a news
junkie, or even a moderate follower of the
historic events in the Middle East, you will
love this book.
A mother's observations of her son as he
grew up form the compelling story of Sue
Klebold, mother of Columbine shooter
Dylan Klebold. Almost sixteen years ago,
Sue's son Dylan and another young man
walked into Columbine High School and
killed thirteen people before killing themselves. Since then, Sue Klebold has examined and questioned every aspect of their life
and Dylan's upbringing to try to answer the
question how this could have happened in
her family in her community. The result of
that process is her new book A Mother's
Reckoning: Living with the Aftermath of
Tragedy. With humility, and sadness, and
often brutal honesty, Sue's examination of
her family and the tragedy of Columbine,
and how she eventually came to terms with
the tragedy, is an emotional read, but contains important lessons for every parent and
educator.
So as winter dwindles, and spring creeps
in, become a better observer of your own
world. Enrich your life with the lessons and
perspectives of others. From those who have
experienced tragedy and joy, travels and war,
see the world through the eyes of others
through books. Expand your horizons
through the words of others. Read and
enjoy.
Barbara Adams is an attorney and the
owner of Books & Moore in Hillsboro,
the only independent bookseller of new
books in Montgomery County.
I March 2016
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family with a
Side of Pancakes
Kumar’s Cafe in Wood River
wriTTen By daVid nunnaLLy
Ellen and Surinder Kumar
Restaurant reviews are not my thing.
I never write them and I rarely read them.
Frankly, I don’t know the difference between
a salad fork and a dinner fork. Now, I have
seen pictures of vibrantly colored, tiny
portions of obscure vegetables or outrageous
meats, drizzled or stacked with more
precision than it took to put a man on the
moon. From the $1,000 bagel at New York’s
Westin Hotel to some $5,000 pizza topped
with cognac-marinated lobster, I just don’t
get food obsessions (yes, all of these can be
found on Google).
Instead, I just chuckle to myself and think
about my grandmother’s collection of
mismatched plates, faded Tupperware, and
the love she poured into everything she
made.
For me, a great meal has little to do with
the cost or the scarcity of the ingredients, and
everything to do with the fellowship you
enjoy while eating. Which is exactly why
Kumar’s Kafe has earned the dubious honor
of being the first restaurant story I have
decided to write. Usually restaurant critics
write long-winded descriptions of food,
fancy metaphors about a restaurant’s
ambiance, and precise details about each
nuance of the maître d’, but, mercifully, I will
cut to the chase.
Ellen Kumar, who co-owns the restaurant
with Surinder, her husband, is incredibly
gracious and warm. The restaurant is filled
with love and friendships, both new and old.
The menu came right off my grandmother’s
table; perfected recipes of true comfort food
like country fried steak and meatloaf.
Before I go on, since this is a restaurant
story, let me tell you about the pancakes and
the Swiss Farm salad. Ellen’s pancakes are
delicate, golden, almost crispy on the
outside, amazingly fluffy on the inside, and,
just to leave no stone unturned, the best ever!
They make my grandmother’s Bisquick
pancakes taste like, well, unturned stones.
Ellen’s syrup? Molten, sugared nectar
dripping from some heavenly portal she has
conjured in the back of the kitchen.
The Swiss Farm salad? If it were only
a salad, it would be reason enough to be
become a vegetarian. But it isn’t. Loaded
with bite sized ham, cheese, and egg, it is
served with a slightly sweet poppy-seed
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dressing that only Ellen and Surinder know
how to make - the Swiss Farm salad is
simply incredible. If you want to try it,
I recommend arriving for lunch a little
early… they sold over 100 of these perfect
creations the day before I completed this
interview
A dozen or more visits to Kumar’s under
my ever-expanding belt over the past few
months converted me from occasional diner
to a Kumar’s Kafe acolyte. By the second or
third visit, I scarcely could get in the door
before Ellen or Michelle Owings, her 11-year
long tenured employee, were already
delivering steaming coffee and infectious
laughter. By the fifth or sixth visit, we were
engaging in conversations about children,
vacations, and horseback riding. By the
tenth visit, my wife and Ellen hugged hello
and goodbye. In the not too distant future,
Ellen and Michelle will probably earn a spot
in our will. Which is exactly why I think
Kumar’s Kafe is so remarkable. Ellen,
Michelle, Surinder, and the entire team at
Kumar’s Kafe don’t just make the restaurant
a wonderful place to eat, they make it an
important landmark in our community,
a place where family values come alive, and,
frankly, their story is worth telling.
Going back to 1977 when Surinder first
came to the United States from his native
India, fate smiled kindly upon the Riverbend.
Of all the places in Surinder could have
chosen, he picked East Alton to plant his
roots, because of a serendipitous connection
he made with a colleague while working for
the U.S. Army in Germany.
“My first job was at IHOP (International
House of Pancakes) in 1977,” recalled
Surinder. “I made $2.35 an hour, worked 70
or 80 hours a week, didn’t own a car or
bicycle, so I walked three miles each way to
and from work every day.”
By 1981, Surinder managed to open his
first restaurant, The Corner Café, on North
Wood River Avenue, but fate would soon
strike again - this time in the form of a nearly
30-year marriage.
“I started working for him at the old
restaurant - on July 6, 1981,” smiled Ellen,
“And we got married in 1987!”
In 1989, Surinder turned the day-to-day
operation of the restaurant over to Ellen so
Always making her customers feel right at home, Ellen Kumar collects breakfast orders from
a group of regular customers who have been coming to Kumar’s Kafe for more than 20 years.
he could focus on his other business interests
in the region, which have included storage
units and rental property to name only a few.
The restaurant survived a disastrous roof
collapse in 1989 and thrived in the
downtown area.
“We used to be open 24 hours,”
remembered Ellen about their Wood River
Avenue location.
Many of the couple’s memories of their
first restaurant are deeply personal. From
their daughter’s first birthday party to their
tenth anniversary celebration, their Wood
River Avenue location was the cornerstone
of so many life-changing events for both
family and community.
“In 1981, there were lawyers, librarians,
bankers, insurance salesmen - probably 20
people at least - who would meet for coffee
every morning,” recalled Surinder of his first
restaurant. “It was so much more than
a customer and owner relationship, they
became part of my family - I enjoyed their
laughter and shared their sorrow and their
hardships.”
Unfortunately, in 2004 fate struck again
when an inferno raged for more than 10
hours and spread from an adjacent building
to the restaurant.
The business was
a complete loss.
“It was a shock and the kids were
devastated because they grew up in that
restaurant,” said Ellen. “But, the man who
owned this building (the current Kumar’s
Kafe location) told us on the day of the fire
that he had been considering remodeling…
four months and four days later, we
re-opened!”
Along with the address change came
a few other changes for the Kumars. With
both a daughter and son actively involved in
school and community activities, they the
days of around-the-clock operations were
over. Instead, the new location is open for
breakfast and lunch and is only open one
evening a week - Friday night - to serve their
inimitable all-you-can-eat catfish.
Even though they serve diners less hours
in the day, the Kumar’s love of family,
dedication to business, and commitment to
customers hasn’t been tempered whatsoever.
Over the years, their restaurant business has
become a true family affair. Ellen’s mother,
both her sisters, and all of her nieces and
nephews all took turns working in the
restaurant. Even Surinder’s family invested
in the success of the business, with two
nieces coming from India to work in the
restaurant. But, just as Surinder recalled of
the coffee group from his first location, the
employees and customers have also become
family.
The morning I interviewed Ellen and her
team, she had to keep excusing herself to
wait on a table of more than 20 people.
It was a real cross-generational mix of folks
-men, women, kids, young and old. And all
of them seemed to know Ellen. Probably
family I assumed. I was right, but not in the
strictest sense of family.
“Those customers have been coming here
for 21 years,” laughed Ellen. “First it was
just the men, then the wives, and now the
children join them.”
When I asked Surinder about his
relationship with customers later that
morning, he shared almost the same
experience.
“People meet here, mothers and fathers
have been coming here for years,” explained
Surinder. “When they come in, we sit with
them, we talk with them, and we listen and
learn from all of them - it is really a family
affair and I have made many lifelong friends
in this business.”
Having been married a pretty long time
myself, I have grown accustomed to thinking
a lot like my wife, so I wasn’t too surprised
when Surinder’s experiences were so similar
to Ellen’s. So, I asked Michelle, their longserving waitress, the same question.
Now, little did I realize before I asked the
question, that Michelle is also a part of the
Kumar family. And I don’t mean the Kumar
Kafe family, I mean the actual family.
Although she is not kin by blood or marriage,
Michelle has been a part of the Kumar’s
family for years, celebrating Christmas and
vacations together. If you are having
breakfast and hear a hearty, joy filled laugh,
most likely it is Michelle telling or listening
to a customer’s story.
“I feel so connected to all the people,
especially our older clientele,” shared
Michelle as she recalled the many invitations
for parties, anniversaries, and other
Back in the kitchen, Janna, Cara, Michelle and Karen are responsible for making
all magic happen! When you visit Kumar’s, find Michelle and tell her a joke her laugh alone is worth the short drive to Wood River!
celebrations her older customers had
extended to the Kumar’s Kafe team over the
years.
“We really like our jobs and we love
coming in every morning and seeing people,
talking to people, and getting to know
everybody, especially the new customers.”
Read that last paragraph again. When
was the last time you can honestly say you
experienced that level of loyalty and
commitment from someone in the service
business who wasn’t the owner? I predict
you can’t.
All of this is why Kumar’s Kafe is so
special. There is a special connection
between the Kumar family and their
customers. Just like Surinder shared, a bond
develops over time between customer and
owner. Ellen and Michelle may not know the
customer’s last name, but they know the
customer’s first name, what they drink, what
they like to eat, and they remember the
memories they have shared with each of
them. And this is what keeps customers
coming back.
Take, for example, Gary.
“Gary is here every day, like clockwork,
usually before Ellen arrives in the mornings,”
shared Michelle as she pointed out Gary’s
preferred table closest to the kitchen. “He
eats here twice a day, every day, except on
Friday, when he comes three times because
we are open for dinner on Friday night.”
According to Ellen, Gary enjoys the daily
specials for lunch, particularly salad on
Thursday and an off-the-menu secret which
is made especially for him only on Friday
nights. It is people like Gary which make
Kumar’s Kafe such a memorable experience.
Without exception, I always met repeat
customers in the restaurant - some are older,
like the folks Surinder first served in 1981
(of the 20 professionals from back then, all
but one has passed on), and some are
younger. But they all have one thing in
common - they are part of the Kumar family.
My wife and I are thankful the Kumar
family made a little bit more room in their
family for these Riverbend transplants.
And, somewhere up in Heaven, my
Grandmother is thankful we found Kumar’s
Kafe.
It is wonderful to visit with Ellen and
Michelle on each visit, but better than that,
I found someplace where my memories of
food, family, and fellowship can come alive
again. And that makes everyone happy, but
Grandma would rap my knuckles with a ruler
for writing her pancakes tasted like unturned
stones!
Kumar’s Kafe is located at 53 E. Ferguson
in Wood River (across for Cleary’s Shoes &
Boots) and is open daily at 6 am-3pm,
except on Friday when the restaurant closes
at 8 pm.
I March 2016
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The Prairie Land Gardener
new flower
Varieties for 2016
By aBBy diLLon
Bidens ‘Beedance Red’ is a new bi-color bidens that is yellow and red.
This annual flower also attracts butterflies and bees.
Each Spring I submit an article dedicated
to the new varieties of plants that can be
found on the shelves of local garden centers.
I highlight a dozen or so of the hundreds that
are introduced to growers throughout the
country. It’s a little nudge to get gardeners
to begin planning for the upcoming season
and it’s a proven relief for the winter blues.
It’s true that sometimes the newest varieties
aren’t always better than those that are tried
and true, but sometimes it’s nice to have
something before everyone else. These
items are usually limited in number and they
tend to sell out by Mother’s Day. I’d look
for them to be on the shelves by the end of
April. Say “Goodbye” to the long winter and
“Hello” to these new beauties.
Allium ‘Medusa’ Alliums are generating a lot of buzz this year, due to their ability
to attract pollinators to the garden (pun intended). As a result many of the major
breeders of perennial plants are working hard
to add at least one allium to their list of introductions. ‘Medusa’ has a stem that twists
at the end but straightens eventually to
flower. It blooms mid-late summer and attracts butterflies and honeybees. Deer and
rabbit resistant.
bidens ‘beedance red’ A new bi-color
bidens that is yellow and red. This annual
flower also attracts butterflies and bees.
Calibrichoa ‘Superbells holy Moly’
For the third year in a row, we have featured
a new calibrichoa in the Superbells line that
has been a bicolor. This is a continuing trend
among all annuals.
Calibrichoa ‘Minifamous Double Apricot’ The mini double calibrichoas seem
fragile and dainty, but they are easy to grow
and pair well with the larger calibrichoas for
a nice trailing combination.
Clematis ‘bernadine’ This clematis is
from the Raymond Evison collection, which
boasts a higher bud count and easier maintenance than typical clematis varieties.
‘Bernadine’ belongs to a series called Boulevard clematis, which means it is a rather
compact vine, growing only 3-4 feet long.
It can be grown in a container or basket in
addition to being trellised.
Dahlia ‘Dahlightful Sultry Scarlet’ In
recent years we have had great luck with a
striking yellow dahlia, called Mystic Illusion,
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that grew amid dark bronze leaves. I’m hoping that this red version turns out to be just
as spectacular.
geranium ‘Calliope Crimson Flame’
Calliope geraniums are a hybrid cross of ivy
and zonal geraniums. They grow a little
more vigorously than the old-fashioned
types, so fewer plants are needed to fill a
container. They also produce more flowers
and require less cleaning.
petunia ‘Crazytunia blackberry
Cheesecake’ Again, a rich bicolor annual.
rose ‘olivia rose Austin’ Rose breeders have had to really work hard in recent
years to develop a plant that will produce
blooms and be less work than the ever popular ‘Knockout’ shrub rose. David Austin
Roses claims this new rose is its finest ever,
named after David Austin’s daughter, Olivia.
It has big beautiful, fragrant flowers that
re-bloom easily on a 3 ½ foot shrub that is
disease resistant.
rose ‘the poet’s wife’ Said to be the
first yellow rose introduced by David Austin
Roses in over ten years. ‘The Poet’s Wife’
features a uniquely shaped bloom that has
less tendency to fade like most yellow roses.
It has a lovely lemony fragrance that gets
sweeter with age.
Sedum ‘Sunsparkler lime twister’
This sport of ‘Lime Zinger’ is a bright complement to the garden. The creamy leaf margins turn red in the fall. Overall, the height
of this plant is close to 10”.
Sempervivum ‘Chick Charms’ Hen &
Chicks are certainly not anything new. In
fact most of our grandmothers grew them in
a quirky container of some sort. My
Grandma Helen used a boot-shaped planter.
However occasionally plant breeders come
up with an ingenious new way to market old
plants. In the 1990’s a group of ground covers called Steppables were highly coveted for
flagstone patios and strawberry jars. ‘Chick
Charms’ is a “new” brand of mixed sempervivums. This is one of those moments that
you want to kick yourself for not thinking of
it first!
The ‘Crazytunia Blackberry Cheesecake’
is a rich bi-color annual.
For the 3rd year in a row we have featured
a new calibrichoa in the Superbells Line.
This is ‘Superbells Holy Moly.’
Abby Dillon is the owner of La Bella Fiori
Greenhouse and Garden Center in Staunton.
217-313-1001 • www.labellafiori.com. They are
currently closed for the winter.
Stamp Collecting
The Hobby of Kings
By MiKe MaKuTa
Said to be the “ Hobby of Kings”, stamp
collecting is a delightful way to explore the
world while sitting in your favorite easy
chair. Learn new history and geography, new
inventions and discoveries just from a little
piece of colored paper…..A STAMP.
You can enjoy stamp collecting at your
leisure, not to hurry. It’s even okay to catch
a quick nap while doing “ research.”.
A hobby from yesteryear can still be very relevant today since true learning never is outdated.
Stamp collecting is very low stress when
you realize that you will never be able to own
all the U.S. stamps ever issued nor will you
ever get rich collecting these little bits of art.
When you collect what you like , you will be
happier than trying to follow some investment strategy that may not be very sound.
If you like elephants, collect elephants; if
you like trains collect stamps about trains.
Just about every country on the face of this
Earth issues stamps. You have the whole
world to choose from.
Early mail in The United States was hap
hazard at best. What was acceptable in the
1770’s as mail delivery was soon outdated as
our new nation started to grow.
Early mail delivery depended on payment
of the letter or parcel by the person to whom
it was delivered , not by who sent the mail.
This practice quickly led to rampant fraud
costing the postal service heavily in revenues
and effort. So much so that ,many senders
resorted to using secret codes on the letter
that actually told the recipient what they
needed to know without having to accept the
mail. Hence, no pay.
But where there is a will or tax there is
a way. In 1842 , earth shaking news was
delivered from Great Britain that their Postmaster General, Sr. Rowland Hill, succeeded
in adapting a new postal fee system THAT
WORKS. Simple, really. The person who
SENDS the letter pays for the letter. (No envelopes were used at this time since it was
considered a second piece of mail.)
He designed an official piece of colored
paper to be affixed to the letter to show
postage was paid. THE STAMP WAS
BORN.
This first stamp was called the “PENNY
BLACK “. It carried a value of one pence
and the only color they had for stamps was
black. Queen Victoria’s image was chosen
for this special occasion.
It wasn’t long until the United States followed suit with two stamps. They are classified as stamp #1 being the 5 cent Benjamin
Franklin and stamp # 2 being the 10 cent
George Washington. The 5 cent stamp
allowed delivery up to 300 miles while the
10 cent was anything over 300 miles.
Estimated number of stamps issued vary
but a number about one million 5 cent and
approximately 600,000 of the 10 cent variety
seem reasonable.
The stamps were printed on small sheets
of special paper and had to be cut out individually to be used. This lack of perforations
accounts for the many mutilated used stamps
with low values. Stamps where care was
used in separation can go for over $20,000.
If July 1,1847 was the date of the first
United States stamp then I’m sure July2,
1847 was the beginning of the first stamp
collectors society.
Mike Makuta can be contacted via email at
[email protected].
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easter of 1865 was
a definitive Period
in american History
By ToM eMery
Holy Week is a reflective time for people
of many faiths, and Palm Sunday, Good
Friday, and Easter Sunday are marked by
tens of millions around the world. However,
Holy Week in 1865 was a defining period in
American history.
On Palm Sunday, April 9, Robert E. Lee
surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia
to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court
House, signaling the death knell for the
Confederate cause that wilted away in the
coming weeks. Five days later on Good
Friday, President Lincoln was mortally
wounded in his box at Ford’s Theater by
assassin John Wilkes Booth, and died the
next morning.
The timing of Lincoln’s death has drawn
parallels to Christ, and it has been claimed
that only Christ has been the subject of more
books than the sixteenth President. However, the extent of Lincoln’s Christian
devotion has been one of the most intensely
debated topics among Lincoln scholars for
decades.
Lincoln’s Christianity - or lack thereof was an issue in his successful 1846 Congressional race against Methodist Rev. Peter
Cartwright. His own law partner, William
Herndon, even declared that Lincoln was an
infidel. Many of Herndon’s various claims
about Lincoln have since been debunked.
It is accepted by many writers that
Lincoln underwent a religious transformation after the death of his second son, fouryear-old Eddie, in 1850. Still, Lincoln was
never an official member of any church in his
lifetime.
Clearly, however, Lincoln was a believer.
His words are peppered with Christian
phrases and alliterations, and some of his
greatest orations, such as the Gettysburg
Address and his Second Inaugural, have been
cited by scholars for their religious reference.
On the opposite side were men like Lee,
a deeply religious individual who frequently
credited his military successes and setbacks
to a higher power. His reports and verbal
declarations often contained references to
“a merciful God,” “the blessings of God,”
and “the Giver.”
Lee biographer Michael Fellman wrote in
2000 that the general “transparently and
warmly believed in the existence of a literal
heaven, a far better place to which all Christians would go” and that “death was no void
but a permanent home.”
As Lee was about to ride to Appomattox
Court House for the surrender on Palm Sunday, he told a subordinate that “as good
Christian men…we must consider only the
effect which our action (to continue or surrender) will have upon the country at large.”
Lee’s devotion was reflective of the
period, as Christianity was a greater part of
life for many Americans in the mid-19th
century than now. Though less than half of
Americans were members of a church in that
era, as many as four out of five attended
services regularly. Christian phrases and
prose were also common in writing and
everyday vernacular.
The evening of Maundy Thursday, April
13, was remembered for the “grand illumination” of candles and lanterns in nearly
every house and business in Washington. The
illumination was less for religious observance and more as part of a day-long city
holiday celebrating the Union victory. The
New York Times described the spectacle as
“general and brilliant, utterly beyond anything ever before attempted here.”
Two days before, on April 11, Lincoln
delivered a speech by candelight from a second-story White House window. In that
appearance, he laid the groundwork for
African-American citizenship, much to the
dismay of Booth, in the audience below.
Many scholars believe Booth made the decision at that moment to kill the President.
Many in 1865 noted the congruity of Lincoln’s death to Holy Week. In a funeral
address at Lincoln’s Springfield burial in
May, Bishop Matthew Simpson said that the
President’s assassination on Good Friday,
“the saddest day in the whole calendar for the
Christian Church, henceforth in this country
was made sadder, if possible, by the memory
of our nation’s loss…so filled with grief was
every Christian heart that even all the joyous
thought of Easter Sunday failed to remove
the crushing sorrow.”
For those of the Jewish faith, April 14,
1865 was the fifth night of Passover. Their
services on the seventh and eighth days were
also tinged with Lincoln reference. Many
rabbis likened Lincoln to an American
Moses.
Elsewhere in the world, particularly
among some European populations, there
was shock that Lincoln would attend a theater performance on Good Friday, a practice
apparently not done in those societies.
When Lincoln died at 7:22 a.m. on Saturday morning, April 15, Secretary of War
Edwin Stanton stared at Lincoln’s lifeless
body and uttered the words “now he belongs
to the angels.” It was only later that Stanton
changed the final word to “ages,” believing
it would read better in history
.
Stanton’s edited words have become synonymous with Lincoln’s assassination, and
are engraved above the memorial room at the
Lincoln Tomb in Springfield.
Tom Emery is a freelance writer and historical researcher from Carlinville, IL. He may
be reached at 217-710-8392 or ilcivilwar@
yahoo.com.
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Golden Advice
Buying and Selling
antique Books
By JeSSe gernigin
The weather has certainly been crazy
since last issue. I hope you enjoyed the good
days and drove safely on the snowy ones!
The presidential primaries are under way,
the stock market is wobbling and the Chinese
market has been wild. That is the crazy news.
The good news is that if you are a silver
and gold investor you have seen gains in the
market.
Last month silver was valued around
$13.87 an ounce. As of writing, silver is at
$16.08. That is almost a $3 gain in under
a month. The question is, will the valuation
hold, go up, or drop? I predict that the
valuation will dip and rise around the $15
mark. I don't think there will be a significant
gain in silver's valuation this month like last
month.
Gold went through a similar invcrease in
valuation. Gold rose from $1087 an ounce to
(as of writing) $1207 an ounce. I think gold
will hold within fifty dollars of this price for
the next month. Should you invest now that
the market is going up? The short answer is
'Yes you should invest' but not because the
market is going up. You should invest
because the market is still low and even if
you buy and it dips you'll still have bought
in while the price is low.
I am writing this after a long week of
customers bringing me old books. I have
some experience in buying and selling
antique and rare books. I had to turn away
over fifty books this week. The customers
were frustrated that they couldn't find good
information on how to value antique books.
I wanted to share the three things you can
look for in buying and selling old books.
The first thing you need to look for when
trying to figure out if a book is rare or
valuable is to see if the book has a copyright
date. If you find the copyright date, and it is
older than the publication dat,e you are
holding a reprint. Most all reprints lack any
collectable value.
The second thing you can look for is how
the book is binded. Most rare books have
higher quality bindings. If your binding is
folded over and glued there is a good chance
the book doesn't have collectable value. This
rule isn't always true. I have a misprinted
Stephen King first edition I bought and sold
a few years back and it had a glue binding.
The third thing you can look for is the
condition. A book may have collectable
value but the quality of the book, like the
quality of a coin, is paramount to the
valuation of the book. Unless a book is
incredibly rare, a book needs to be free of
mold, rot, tears, wear and marking on both
the page and cover.
If you think your book passes these three
things and might be rare or valuable, the next
step you can take is to follow up with
research online. There are multiple rare and
collectable book forums where, for free, you
can post photos of your book and ask for
opinions from professionals in this field.
I would avoid using eBay when trying to
value your rare book. Most of the books on
eBay are not rare and are faslely priced by
people working under incorrect beliefs.
Here is a neat tip for people who have
bought large old book collections or have
inherited a lot of old books. You are going to
hate me for saying this but you need to go
through every single book. Why? Back in the
fifties and sixties people would hide extra
cash around the house and one of the safest
places to do that was between book pages.
I discovered this while shopping at a used
book store during my sophmore year of
college. I was in a used book store in
Kentucky and had just bought a book. Later
that night I was reading it and discovered
a fifty dollar bill stuck between the pages.
Well readers, I have had four cavities
taken care of while writing this, so look
forward to speaking with you all next month!
I think in the next article it will be fun to talk
about why dentists used to use silver and
gold for fillings. The reason will surprise
you!
Until next month be safe, invest low and
slow, and enjoy the weather!
Jesse Gernigin is the owner of Ken’s Coins in East
Alton. If you have questions for Jesse, email
[email protected] (please put
Golden Advice in the subject line).
I March 2016
I 27
Follow My Fitness
CraCK CHiCKen
20 Common reasons
you are not Losing weight
Part 1 of a 2 Part Series
By Tara L. CaLe
ingredients
3 pound chicken breast
16 oz cream cheese
2 packets of ranch dressing mix
1 (8 oz) package of cooked bacon
Don’t credit me for the information in this
month’s column. It comes from Authority
Nutrition, an online resoure that I have found
to be very informatative and relevant. See if
you agree.
We will cover the first 10 reasons you
may not be losing weight this month, and the
second half in April...
You may be able to lose quite a lot of
weight at first, without much effort. However, weight loss may slow down or stop
altogether after a while. This article lists 20
common reasons why you’re not losing
weight. It also contains actionable tips on
how to break through the plateau and get
things moving again.
1. Maybe you Are losing
without realizing it
If you think you are experiencing a
weight loss plateau, then you may not need
to freak out just yet. It is incredibly common
for the scale not to budge for a few days (or
weeks) at a time. This does NOT mean that
you are not losing fat.
Body weight tends to fluctuate by a few
pounds. It depends on the foods you are eating, and hormones can also have a major
effect on how much water your body holds
28
I
March 2016
I
on to (especially in women).
Also, it is possible to gain muscle at the
same time as you lose fat. This is particularly
common if you just recently started exercising.
This is a good thing, as what you really
want to lose is body fat, not just weight.
It is a good idea to use something other
than the scale to gauge your progress. For
example, measure your waist circumference
and get your body fat percentage measured
once per month.
Also, how well your clothes fit and how
you look in the mirror can be very telling.
Unless your weight has been stuck at the
same point for at least 1-2 weeks, then you
probably don’t need to worry about anything.
2. you’re not keeping
track of what you’re Eating
Awareness is incredibly important if you
are trying to lose weight. Many people actually don’t have a clue how much they’re
really eating.
Studies show that keeping track of your
diet helps with weight loss. People who use
food diaries, or take pictures of their meals,
consistently lose more weight than people
who don’t.
Directions
Put chicken, cream cheese and ranch seasoning in crockpot and cook on high for
4 hours. Shred chicken and crumble
bacon and mix together. Serve as a main
course alone or over lettuce or spinach.
notes: Not LOW LOW carb, but still better than most traditional meals, as this
recipe used half of the carbs we are
allowed for one day, but... we served ours
beside the spinach (instead of over it) but
3. you’re not Eating Enough protein
Protein is the single most important nutrient for losing weight. Eating protein at 2530% of calories can boost metabolism by
80-100 calories per day and make you automatically eat several hundred fewer calories
per day. It can also drastically reduce cravings and desire for snacking.
This is partly mediated by protein’s
effects on appetite-regulating hormones,
such as ghrelin and others.
If you eat breakfast, then this is the most
important meal to load up on the protein.
Studies show that those who eat a highprotein breakfast are less hungry and have
also had so much left over (we always
double recipes) that we put it on low carb
tortillas, with lettuce, for lunch for the
next 2 days and it was very yummy in this
presentation also. We did find this recipe
a bit “dry” for us, so are considering
adding a bit of chicken broth, water or a
bit more cream cheese in the next attempt.
nutritional info
Serving Size: 6 servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 527.1
Total Fat: 31.8 g
Total Carbs: 10.3 g
Dietary Fiber: 1.5 g
Protein: 42.1 g
fewer cravings throughout the day. A high
protein intake also helps prevent metabolic
slowdown, a common side effect of losing
weight. It also helps to prevent weight regai.
4. you’re Eating too Many Calories
A large percentage of people who have
trouble losing weight are simply eating too
many calories.
You may think that this does not apply to
you, but keep in mind that studies consistently show that people tend to underestimate
their calorie intake by a significant amount.
If you are not losing weight, then you
should try weighing your foods and tracking
your calories for a while.
Here are some helpful resources:
Calorie calculator - Use this tool to figure
out how many calories to eat.
Calorie counters - This is a list of 5 free
websites and apps that can help you keep
track of your calorie and nutrient intake.
Tracking is also important if you’re trying to
reach a certain nutrient goal, like getting 30%
of your calories from protein. This can be impossible to achieve if you’re not tracking
things properly.
It is generally not necessary to count calories and weigh everything for the rest of your
life. I personally just do it every few months
for a few days at a time to get a “feel” for
how much I should be eating.
5. you’re not Eating whole Foods
Food quality is just as important as quantity. Eating healthy foods can improve your
health and help regulate your appetite. These
foods tend to be much more filling than their
processed counterparts.
Keep in mind that many processed foods
labeled as “health foods” aren’t really
healthy. Stick to whole, single-ingredient
foods as much as possible.
6. you’re not lifting weights
One of the most important things you can
do when losing weight is to do some form of
resistance training, like lifting weights.
This can help you hold on to your precious muscle mass, which is often burned
along with body fat if you are not exercising.
Lifting weights can also help prevent
metabolic slowdown, and make sure that
what is beneath the fat looks good.
You don’t want to lose a bunch of weight
just to look “skinny-fat” underneath.
7. you’re binge Eating
(Even on healthy Food)
Binge eating is a common side effect of
dieting. It involves rapidly eating large
amounts of food, often much more than your
body needs.
This is a pretty big problem for many
dieters. Some of them binge on junk food,
while others binge on relatively healthy
foods, including nuts, nut butters, dark
chocolate, cheese, etc.
Even if something is healthy, the calories
still count. Depending on the volume, just
a single binge can often ruin an entire week’s
worth of dieting.
8. you’re not Doing Cardio
For some strange reason, cardio (as in
running, jogging, swimming, etc) has gotten
a bad rap in recent years.
However, it is one of the most effective
ways to improve your health. It is also very
effective at burning belly fat, the harmful
“visceral” fat that builds up around the
organs and causes disease.
9. you’re Still Drinking Sugar
Sugary beverages are the most fattening
items in the food supply. Our brains don’t
compensate for the calories in them by making us eat less of other foods.
This isn’t only true of sugary drinks like
Coke and Pepsi; it also applies to “healthier”
beverages like Vitaminwater - which are also
loaded with sugar.
Even fruit juices are problematic, and
should not be consumed in large amounts.
A single glass can contain a similar amount
of sugar as several pieces of whole fruit!
10. you’re not Sleeping well
Good sleep is one of the most important
things to consider for your physical and mental health, as well as your weight.
Studies show that poor sleep is one of the
single biggest risk factors for obesity. Adults
and children with poor sleep have a 55%
and 89% greater risk of becoming obese,
respectively.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
On an added note, do you remember last
month when I talked about the Crack
Chicken recipe that loyal readers had shared
with me, but I could not find? Well since,
I have found that recipe, and I made it, and
of course took photos.
So that is this month’s featured recipe.
It really was good, although as indicated on
the recipe, we found it a bit dry. And like
Barbara Stuffington always says in Buzzin’
Around the Kitchen... take the recipe and
make it your own. But if you are on a lowcarb or low-calorie diet, be mindful of these
specifications (note: although a fairly lowcarb recipe, it is certainly not low calorie due to the sour cream).
Read The Prairie Land Buzz Magazine
next month for the next 10 reasons you may
not be losing weight, here in the Follow My
Fitness column!
I March 2016
I
29
Montgomery County resident Patricia Justison with her her pulling tractors.
All photos by Keith Ladage.
Local women
Pull ahead in
Male dominated Sport
By Cindy Ladage
If you are a regular reader of The Buzz,
you enjoy reading about the amazing and talented people that live all around us. Two
more right in our midst are Patricia Justison
and Bethany Nelson. Both recently competed at the 48th Annual Championship Tractor pull in Louisville, Kentucky as part of the
National Farm Machinery Show. While neither ended up placing in the winner’s circle,
being invited to be part of Louisville, - the
grand daddy pull of them all - is quite an
honor in itself.
When I learned that the two of them lived
within a short driving distance I high-tailed
it to their farms to interview them about the
amazing male dominated sport they compete
in. After the interviews I walked away with
an entirely new appreciation for their dedication and for the family aspect that goes
with truck and tractor pulling.
Patricia Justison is a farm girl from Montgomery County and lives outside of Hillsboro. She grew up on a hog farrow to finish
operation that changed over to farming, and
growing Great Lakes seed. She and her
brother David Justison both competed at
Louisville in the 10,200 lb Pro Stock Tractor
category. Patricia drove her John Deere 6030
aptly named Corn Fed and David drove a
Minneapolis Moline Vista G1000. Prior to
30
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March 2016
I
tractor pulling both brother and sister pulled
Legacy trucks.
The burning question for me was, how
does a young woman get involved in a sport
like pulling? For Patricia it all began with
a Dodge farm truck and a brother’s desire for
adventure.
“My grandpa Justison bought two 1994
Dodge trucks. One was used to haul hogs
first, then my sister Keri drove it to high
school and when my brother went to high
school, he drove it too. He started playing
with it adding traction bars and weight brackets. He’d take it to brush pulls and local
pulls.”
This local pulling eventually led David to
the truck he built and named Legacy. After
the addition of that truck, which became a
family icon, he joined the Illinois Tractor
Pullers Association (ITPA) in 2007.
Patricia recalled David dropping her off
at junior high in the revved up truck and the
fever soon spread from brother to sister.
While not yet 16, Patricia recalls competing
in a pull at Edinburg, IL before she ever had
a driver’s license.
My next question was, how does one
learn to drive a pulling truck or tractor?
“I’m very lucky,” Patricia explained to
me. “I had driven in fields so I had known
Bethany Nelson competes in Super Modified Truck Pulling, along with her husband Jared.
The Nelsons are from Altamont, Illinois.
how to drive with a clutch for years,” she
said. “In 2009 at 16 years old I won in a pull
at Murphysboro. It was exhilarating. I got
Rookie of the Year in 2009 with Legacy. At
one time we had two trucks and two tractors
and we ran them all.”
These days Patricia has moved from
pulling trucks to pulling tractors, which she
admits have even more RPMs that the trucks!
She likes working with the tractors and the
Pro Stock class because she said they are
mostly farmers and “They are another
family.”
Patricia has been successful with Corn
Fed; in 2015 she scored third in total points.
She competes mostly locally within a two
hour drive from home and sticks with the
ITPA pulls.
After graduating from ISU at Bloomington/Normal with a degree in Agronomy Management and performing an internship in
crop production research, she came back to
the farm where she said, “I do just about anything. I drilled wheat last fall. We plant the
ground and do surveying and ditch work. We
stay busy. My brother, dad and I farm.”
“Being a woman in this sport, I feel well
respected. I have been in the field long
enough to be accepted by other pullers. It’s
a man’s sport, but with my background it fits
well.”
As for the invite to the grand daddy tractor show of them all, Patricia said, “That was
my first time pulling at Louisville and it was
on my 23rd birthday too. It was kind of a big
deal.”
her family pulled tractors back when she was
young.
“I drove a tractor (a John Deere Light
Super Stock called Steel Drums) at 17, then
took a break,” she said when college, marriage and children came along.
While men outnumber the women in the
hobby Bethany said, “It can be intimidating,
but the men all make us feel at home. And
the women in the crowd love to see women
do well.”
It is quite admirable to know that Bethany
Nelson herself is doing it all - wife, mother,
career woman and female puller. The Nelson’s have a son that is a sophomore in high
school and two daughters in grade school.
“We run a small trucking company and
pulling is a hobby. Boyd & Sons Machinery
out of Washington, Indiana sells trailer lines
and Warrior tracks, a rubber track, they sponsor us.”
After a break, Bethany started back up
pulling. With the truck they built for her in
2014 she was a winner right out of the gate ,
racking up the most points in the PPL league.
”Jared’s truck is Midnight Revenge and
mine is Sweet Revenge. Jared’s family theme
was Midnight and we wanted to tie into that,”
Bethany said. “Jared pulled at Louisville at
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I also got to visit with Bethany Nelson,
from Altamont, IL. This central Illinois
woman competes in the 6,200 lb 2-WD
Super Modified Trucks. She competes along
with her husband Jared Nelson, whose dad
and brother also pull. The two actually met
at a tractor pull and the romance took off
from there. Married in 2003, Bethany said
Bethany Nelson said pulling can be a bit intimidating, but the male pullers
make them feel at home and it is something the entire family can enjoy together.
16. He has pulled for 18 years there. His dad
was a diehard puller. From the second Jared
had a driver’s license he was in a truck.”
This was Nelson’s second time at
Louisville. “Pulling motorsports attracts us
because of the family aspect. The kids were
there too. The thrill of the run is fun competition, but the best is the people we meet on
the road. Louisville is our winter vacation,
it never gets old.”
Bethany, like Patricia allowed me to sit in
her HUGE truck with a HUGE motor right
in front of her. “I have to look around it to
see sometimes,” Bethany admitted.
Overall, I was amazed by the fearlessness
of these young women and take my hat off
to them for plowing ahead in a man’s sports
and making a name for themselves and other
pioneering young women!
I March 2016
I
31
Triad
Knights
wrestling
Team Sets
Milestone
Cole Witzig
John McKinney
Merick Fulton
“I’m going have to get better in all
aspects of wrestling, get a lot stronger,”
Witzig said. “I’m going to have to keep
working hard, it’s a lot different there.”
Witzig started competitive wrestling at
the age of four in the Triad Little Knights
Wrestling program. His father has served as
his coach his whole life.
“I had very good practice partners,” he
said on the Knights program. “I had the
chance to wrestle better competition every
day.”
McKinney, who competed at 195 this
year, went to state as a sophomore and junior.
He placed fourth as a junior. McKinney finished the year with an 18-2 mark. The grappler suffered an injury in his second match
of the season in November and didn’t return
until the end of January. The senior suffered
a fractured orbital bone and frontal bone and
broke a sinus cavity.
“The competition is a lot better once you
go there, especially with me being out for
a lot of the season,” McKinney said. “It was
a lot harder for me because I had to build up
my endurance to be the best I could be at the
end of the year.”
Even when sidelined with injury, the
senior kept his head in the game.
“I trained while I was out,” he said.
“I could still run. I ran as much as I could.”
McKinney started wrestling as a freshman where he landed a spot on the varsity
team.
“It was my goal to be a state champ as
a freshman,” he said. “I came up a little
short.”
He played basketball during his grade
school years and made a switch at the suggestion of his basketball coach. McKinney
will play football next year at McKendree
College, a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics School in Lebanon.
He plans on trying out for the wrestling team.
Fulton finished the year with a 36-3 mark
in the 132-pound weight class. The senior
qualified for state as a sophomore and placed
fourth as a junior.
“It felt great, my overall goal was to be
a state champ,” Fulton said on this year’s finish. “I fell a little short, but it’s a great
accomplishment to place second.”
Fulton is undecided on college plans, but
he plans on trying to wrestle if he attends
a school that has a team. The three-time state
qualifier started wrestling at the age of four
in a youth program in Collinsville but then
started with the Little Knights at the age of
six.
“At that time, I was just experimenting on
what I wanted to do in my sports,” he said.
“When I realized I liked it, I just stuck with
it.”
Like any competitive wrestler, Fulton
grew to understand the importance of conditioning.
“When you step out there, you start
going,” Fulton said. “And then you start
wearing kids out.”
He’s also learned the importance of
quickness and agility in the feet. Fulton has
jumped rope to develop his footwork.
“You have to have light feet,” he said.
“Always use the balls of your feet.”
By JaSon SiBerT
The Triad Knights wrestling team set
a milestone this season. Three Knight
wrestlers Cole Witzig, John McKinney and
Merik Fulton placed second at the state
wrestling tournament in Champaign on Feb.
18-20, a first in school history.
“We’ve only had seven kids (in a state
championship match) in the history of the
school,” Triad coach Russ Witzig said.
“So this is pretty neat.”
The Knights posted success this year as
a team, as they won the Mississippi Valley
Conference for the ninth year in a row and
finished with a 16-7 record. All three of
those who placed second at state in Class 2A
competition are seniors wrestled for four
years.
Cole Witzig, Russ’ son, finished the season with a very impressive 45-2 mark in the
170-pound weight class. He started wrestling
varsity as a freshman and posted the best
record of his career this year. No stranger to
state-level competition, Witzig placed third
as a sophomore and second last year as a junior.
“It was a lot of help, having the experience,” Witzig said. “You know you have to
be ready when you’re there.”
Witzig committed to wrestle next year at
North Dakota State, a Division I school in
Fargo, N.D.
32
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March 2016
I
new wioa
Program
offered
Through
MerS
goodwill
As of July 1, 2015, the WIA (Workforce
Investment Act) changed to WIOA (Workforce Innovative Opportunity Act). MERS
Goodwill received a grant to provide the
service in Madison County.
What does that mean to Madison county
residents? It means that there are funds
available to assist youth from 16-24 years of
age who are currently not attending school
due to dropping out or graduating from high
school. Additional requirements need to be
one of the following: pregnant or parenting,
unemployed or working part-time, low-income, disability, criminal history, or basic
skills deficient.
The MERS Goodwill WIOA Youth Program offers free services to include Job
Readiness Training (JRT) which allows
youth to be assisted with writing a resume,
mock interviews, job searches, and budgeting tips; tutoring to improve math, reading
and language skills; career counseling; and
paid subsidized employment. Participants
may also receive assistance with the college
and trade school enrollment process including FAFSA preparation. Supportive services
include case management, tutoring, earn
money reaching goals, and paid testing fees.
Limited fees are also available to pay for certifications such as for High School Equivalency (formerly known as the GED),
Financial Education, Forklift Training, and
Occupational Safety and Health Administra-
tion (OSHA).
The MERS Goodwill WIOA Youth Program office is conveniently located in the
Riverbender Community Center at 200 W.
3rd Street, #704, in Alton. The case manager
is also available to meet at alternate locations
throughout the county.
In addition, similar programs are located
in Washington, Bond, Clinton, Monroe,
Randolph, and St. Clair counties.
Do you know a youth or young adult
who may benefit from this free program?
If you do, please call Heather Sawyers at
618-792-7266 or Robin Pruitt at 618-9790351 today!
I March 2016
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33
Events for
March 2016
Pinochle is played every Monday from 12:30-3
and every Thursday from 12-3 at the Main Street
Community Center, 1003 N. Main, Edwardsville.
For
information
call
618-656-0300,
www.mainstcc.org.
Ladies Book Club, 6 pm, the 1st Thursday of
every month. The Women’s Ministry Center, 555
E Bethalto Dr. Bethalto. To register call 618-8039078.
Alateen Meeting, for young people whose lives
have been affected by someone who has a drinking problem. No fees, no memberships, ages 919. Held at 2 locations every Thursday: First
Christian Church, 310 S. Main, Edwardsville
from 7-8 pm and Gillespie Library, 210 W. Chestnut from 8-9 pm (use side door). For more information call 618-463-2429 or 618-401-9836,
Tuesday, March 1
Quilting, 9-11 am, every Tuesday at Jarvis Township Senior Citizens Center, 410 Wickliffe St.,
Troy. Quilting for all, beginners through seasoned,
www.troymaryvillecoc.com.
Story Time every Monday and Tuesday at 10 am,
Wednesdays at 6:30 pm. Glen Carbon Library,
198 S. Main, www.glencarbonlibrary.org.
Sit-n-Sew meets every Tuesday from 10-4. Stay
for an hour or stay all day! Bring your machine
and your UFOs (unfinished objects) Main Street
Mini Mall Quilt Shop, 124 East Main, Staunton,
618-635-5509, [email protected].
Bingo every Tuesday and Friday, 1-3 pm, Main
Street Community Center, 1003 N. Main, Edwardsville, Call 618-656-0300 for information,
www.mainstreetcc.org.
Sew and Show Stitchers meet the first Tuesday of
every month at 6 pm at St. Paul's Lutheran
Church, 103 N. Main St, Hillsboro.
Craft Beer Night, the first Tuesday of every
month, 6 pm, at Milo’s Cigars and More, Hwy
159 Maryville, 618-288-1343, www.milostr.com.
Emotions Anonymous meets every Tuesday at 6
pm at the Louis Latzer Library, 1001 9th Street,
Highland (Contact Jackie at 618-654-9351 or
email: 16bjschu@email) and at 6 pm at the Locust
Street Resource Center in Carlinville (Contact
Larry Madorin, [email protected] or 217272-4560). Free and open to anyone in need of
emotional support for any reason.
Grief Support Group, 6:30 pm, No fee and no registration needed. Topics include how to better understand the grieving process, developing coping
skills, improving communication and stress management. For anyone that has experienced a loss
of any kind. Meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday
of every month at the First Baptist Church of
Litchfield, Harrison Street entrance. For more information, call Joyce Weatherford, RN/Case Manager at St . Francis Hospital, head of the support
group, at 217-324-8544.
Amvets Monthly Meeting, 7 pm, Repeats
monthly on 1st Tuesday of every month at Amvets
Auxiliary 204, 1711 Kennedy Dr. Madison, IL.
Interested in becoming a member? Please contact
Carolyn at 618-444-5069 or by email at
[email protected] or Dixie at 972-9892 or [email protected], www.granitecity.illinois.gov.
wednesday, March 2
Duplicate Bridge is played every Wednesday,
9-noon, Main Street Community Center,
1003 N. Main, Edwardsville, Call 618-656-0300
for information, www.mainstreetcc.org.
34
I
March 2016
I
Quilt Club meets the 1st Wednesday of every
month at 10 am and 7 pm. Admission of $1 to attend this educational show-and-tell group event
includes free pattern. Main Street Mini Mall Quilt
Shop, 124 East Main, Staunton, 618-635-5509,
email: [email protected].
Dance Fitness Exercise Class, every Wednesday,
1-2 pm. $5/session (First visit FREE) Main
Street Community Center, 1003 N. Main,
Edwardsville. 618-656-0300, or by email at
[email protected].
Story Time every Wednesday at 6:30 pm plus
every Monday and Tuesday at 10 am. Glen
Carbon Library, 198 S. Main,
www.glencarbonlibrary.org.
PJ Story Time every Wednesday in March at Six
Mile Regional Library, 2145 Johnson Rd, Granite
City. Babies and Toddlers, 6:30-7:30 babies &
toddlers. Ages 3-7, 7pm 3-7 year olds. Questions,
Call 618-452-6238 x3,
www.granitecity.illinois.gov.
Lions Club Bingo, 7 pm, every Wednesday at
Trimor Bingo Hall 3701 Nameoki Rd, 618-8777771. We play 27 games including 3-$500 bingo
games, 2-$500 raffle games, and 4-$1000 raffle
games. Our mission is to assist folks in Pontoon
Beach, Mitchell, Granite City, Madison and
Venice who have sight & hearing problems,
www. granitecity.illinois.gov.
Thursday, March 3
Bible Study each Thursday 9am @ the home of
Teresa Abert. Ladies in the area are welcome to
come for bible study, prayer time and fellowship.
Teresa Abert, 208 N.Duncan Street, Marine.
Email [email protected] or call 618-5312746 for more information, facebook.com/
teresakayabert.
Write Your Own Story class, 9:30 -11 am, every
Thursday. Resources and writing prompts available for $30 which entitles you to attend the
Thursday a.m. writing sessions and it is also a useful guide if you want to work on your own. You
may start the class at any time and attend as many
classes as you like .Main Street Community Center, 1003 N. Main St, Edwardsville. Email:
[email protected] or call 618-656-0300 for more
info. www.mainstcc.org.
Bible Study every Thursday at noon at the Womens Ministry Center , 555 E. Bethalto Drive,
Bethalto. Call 618-803-9078 for information.
Bingo, 12-3 pm, every Thursday at the Knights of
Columbus Hall, 1 Columbus Plaza, Collinsville.
$1/card. Great lunch menu changes weekly,
www.discovercollinsville.com.
Police Bingo, every Thursday night, starts at
7 pm. No games under $110. Paper cards &
mates, full snack bar, bing supplies, no smoking,
plenty of parking. Proceeds benefit the programs
supported by the Granite City Police Dept including youth athletics. Knights of Columbus Hall,
425 Old Alton Road, Granite City.
Open Play at Riverbend Community Center, 200
W. 3rd St, Alton, every Thurs & Fri Night from
6-10 pm. Open to members and non-members.
Just $5 a person or $15 a family. Members get in
Free on Thursdays! Come for dinner at Prinvicalli's Cafe located on the second floor of the
community center and then watch a movie or play
games all night! All ages welcome. For more information contact John at 618-465-9850, email
[email protected] or visit
www.riverbender.com/communitycenter.
Junior Friends Of The Glen Carbon Library, 6:30
pm. the first Thursday of the month. Visit the
Youth Services Department to sign up. Glen Carbon Library, 198 S. Main, Glen Carbon,
Children's Storytime, 6:30 pm, Louis Latzer
Library, Highland, www.highlandillibrary.org.
Family Board Game Night every Thursday at Six
Mile Regional Library 2001 Delmar Ave, Granite
City, 6:30-7:30 pm Training & Events room,
Questions?
call
452-6238
x3,
FREE SQUARE DANCE LESSON, 7-9 pm with
Hoedowners Square Dance Club. Wood River
Roundhouse, 633 N. Wood River Ave, Wood
River (Roundhouse entrance and parking lot are
located on Whitelaw Ave near Aquatic Center).
Held every Thursday, starting 2nd week classes
will be just $5/person. Contact Bo or Agnes
Smith for more info, 618-288-9838, email:
[email protected]. www.hoedowners.com.
Emotions Anonymous 12 Steps for Christians
meets every Thursday at 7 pm at the St. Paul
Lutheran Church on the frontage road 2 miles
north of Hamel. Free and open to anyone in need
of emotional support for any reason. Contact
Larry Madorin,[email protected] or 217272 -4560.
Lions Club Bingo, 7 pm. Trimor Bingo Hall, 3701
Nameoki Rd, Granite City. We play 27 games including 3-$500 bingo games, 2-$500 raffle games,
and 4-$1000 raffle games. Our mission is to assist
folks in Pontoon Beach, Mitchell, Granite City,
Madison and Venice who have sight & hearing
problems. www.granitecity.illinois.gov.
friday, March 4
Tri-Township Public Library Book Sale, 9-noon,
209 South Main Street, Troy, www.troycoc.com.
Dr. Suess Birthday Party, 9:30-11 am, Korte
Recreation Center, Highland. Dr. Suess will be
here to read a story, create a craft, enjoy a snack,
and then to the pool for swimming at toddler time.
Everyone will receive a special gift to remember
the day. Youth must be accompanied by an adult.
Fee: Members $6 Non members $12,
www.highlandillinois.com.
Fish Fry every Friday - 5-7 pm, 9 oz catfish filet,
fries, slaw, and dessert/$7.00, fish sandwich/
$4.00. Carryouts available for 25¢ extra. VFW
Post 3912, 215 W. Ryder, Litchfield.
Fish Fry, 4-8 pm, Choice of Fried Cod, Catfish,
Jack Salmon and Baked Salmon or Tilapia, Cod
cut ups, Shrimp and Chicken Strips. Dinners include 2 sides: choice of cole slaw, potato salad,
french fries, macaroni and cheese, baked beans,
hushpuppies, mushrooms and onion rings. Eat in
or carryout. 618-667-8387. Troy VFW, Troy,
Friday Night Fish Fry, 5-8 pm, every Friday at
V.F.W. Post 1300, 3401 Century Dr, Granite City.
Kitchen open to the public- Eat in, call in and
carry out. Cod, fried shrimp, jack salmon &
chicken strips. Plate includes 2 sides for $7.50,
Sandwiches are $5. Catfish fillets plates include
2 sides for $8, Sandwiches are $5.50,
Saturday, March 5
Screening Clinic for Children with Bone, Muscle,
or Joint Problems at Anderson Hospital, 6800 IL.
Route 162, Maryville, IL 62062 For more information: 618-246-6056. Walk-ins welcome! Conditions Treated at Shriners Hospitals for Children
- St. Louis include: Arthrogryposis (Stiff Joints),
Cerebral Palsy, Clubfoot, Hip Conditions, Osteogenesis Imperfecta (Brittle Bones), Juvenile
Rheumatoid Arthritis, Limb Deformities, Limb
Length Differences, Neurological Disorders,
Rickets, Scar Revisions, Scoliosis, Specialized
Plastic Surgery, Spina Bifida/ Myelodysplasia,
Spine Conditions and Sports Injuries. Children are
eligible to receive care if they are under the age
of 18 with a treatable orthapaedic condition. Income, financial status and/or insurance coverage
has no impact on eligibility for services. For more
information about Shriners Hospitals for Children
- St. Louis: Main: 314-432-3600, Referrals:
800-850-2960, facebook.com/ShrinersSTL OR
www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/stlouis.
Jerseyville Parks and Recreation Department 3rd
Annual Rummage Sale, 8-1, Susnig Center, 401
Mound St, Jerseyville. Admission
$1/person. Items for sale will include but not limited to: Antiques, baby items, baskets, books,
clothes, coins, furniture, glassware, and more!
Concessions will be available for purchase. For
more information or to be a vendor, call 618-4982222 or email jerseyvilleparkandrec@jersey
ville-il.us, www.visitalton.com.
7th Annual Wash n Wag, 10-3 at Four Muddy
Paws, 2127 St Rte 157, Edwardsville. Pamper
your dog, and yourself! $15 per dog includes
shampoo and dry, one digital image to be emailed
to you. Complimentary food and wine while you
wait! All proceeds go to Partners for Pets,
www.edglenchamber.com.
Saturday Story Time, every Saturday at 10:30 am.
Interactive program of stories, crafts, songs and
fun for all ages. No registration required.
Maryville Community Library, 8 Schiber Court,
Maryville, www.maryville.lib.il.us.
2nd Annual Trivia Night for American Cancer
Society, 6:30-10 pm at Wiesemeyer Community
Center, Tri-Township Park, 410 Wickliffe, Troy.
$80/table, max of 8 players per team. Call or text
618-406-6755 to reserve, www.troycoc.com.
Awesome food, crafts, baked goods, Scholastic
Book Fair. Adults/$10, Kids (5-10) $4.00, Kids
(under 5) free. Menu: Pork Sausage, Mashed Potatoes, Sauerkraut, Green Beans, Corn, Applesauce and more, www.troycoc.com.
Marine Elementary PTO Black Light Bash, 7 pm
at Highland VFW. Doors open at 5:30. For more
info contact, Meghan Dempsey 618-409-0915,
www.troycoc.com.
Herbal Workshop with Crystal Moore-Stevens,
2-3 pm, The Nature Institute, 2213 S. Levis Lane,
Godfrey. Intro to herbalism, Basic herbal remedies, stocking your home apothecary, native medicinals, edible and medicinal weeds (foraged or
found in your own backyard). Take homes include
a few handouts and an herbal remedies recipe
booklet. Second class on March 13 will discuss
strictly native medicinal plants) $15 per class or
$25 for both classes, www.thenatureinstitute.org.
Troy Knights of Columbus Trivia Night, 7-10:30
pm, St. John Neumann Elementary School, 142
Wilma Drive, Maryville. Proceeds will benefit St.
John Neumann Elementary School, Scholarships
and Various Charities. Call Norm Broska 618667-2115 with reservations or questions or email
at [email protected] or call Dennis Barnett at
618-667-3104 or email at [email protected]. Doors open at 6 pm. Cash prizes to the
top 3 finishers. $120/table (which includes mulligans), limit of 8 players per table. Bring your own
food, snacks and beverages coolers allowed.
Silent auction, 50/50 and other bonus games,
www.troycoc.com.
Eagles Bingo, 7 pm, every Friday and Saturday
at Tri-mor Bingo Center, 3701 Nameoki Rd,
Granite City. Great Prizes and great fun!
Mouse Races to Benefit the Granite City Junior
Warriors baseball & softball Club at KG's Sportsbar, 5050 Nameoki Rd. 50/50, Silent Auction,
Beverages included. Tickets $15 each. . For more
information
contact
Pat
Ryan
[email protected].
Alateen Meeting, every Saturday, 8-9 pm, Gillespie Library, 201 W. Chestnut (side door). For
young people (ages 9-19) whose lives have been
affected by someone who has a drinking problem.
No fees, no membership. For more information
call 618-463-2429 or 618-406-9530.
Albert Cummings sings the Blues, 8 pm at The
Wildey Theatre, 252 N. Main, Edwardsville,
www.wildeytheatre.com.
Sat, March 5-Sun, March 6
18th Anniversary Celebration at State Street Antiques & Collectibles and Jim’s Attic, 115 N. State
Street, Jerseyville. 18% off storewide TWO
DAYS ONLY. For more information find them
on Facebook.
"Two By Two" A book by Peter Stone with music
and lyrics by Richard Rodgers & Martin Charmin,
7 pm both nights. Tickets only $15. Call 844-2489720. www.alfrescoproductions.org.
Sunday, March 6
Sausage Supper, noon- 6 pm, Saint Paul's
Lutheran Church, 112 North Border Street, Troy.
Old Country and Bluegrass Music Jam, every
Sunday, 5-9 pm. All artists welcome, all audiences welcome. Millersburg General Store, 613
Route 143, Millersburg (E. Pierron). 618-6692155.
Monday, March 7
Euchre is played the 1st and 3rd Monday of each
month, 9:30-11:30 am, Main Street Community
Center, 1003 N. Main, Edwardsville, Call 618656-0300 for information, www.mainstreetcc.org.
Pinochle is played every Monday from 12:303 and every Thursday from 12-3 at the Main
Street Community Center, 1003 N. Main, Edwardsville. For information call 618-656-0300,
www.mainstcc.org.
Bingo every Monday - doors open at 5:30, bingo
starts at 7 pm. Food and drink available. VFW
Tales for Tails every Monday night from 6-7 pm.
Students in grades K-5 can practice reading to a
furry friend. At the Niedringhaus School, corner
of 29th and State. For more information call 618452-6238 or visit www.smrld.org.
S.T.A.R.S. With Dogs, 6-7 pm. Read your favorite
stories to CHAMP therapy dogs the second Monday of every month. This event pairs dogs with
both emerging readers and readers who love to
read to dogs. Registration is required and available online. Glen Carbon Library, 198 S. Main,
Morehouse College Glee Club Concert at St.
John's United Methodist Church, 7372 Marine
Road, Edwardsville, 7-8:30 pm. The Morehouse
College Glee Club is the premier singing organization of Morehouse College. Morehouse travels
all over the country and the world, demonstrating
excellence in choral performance. A rare musical
experience! Tickets are $20, www.thenewstjohns.com.
Emotions Anonymous meets every Monday night
at 8 pm at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, 504
North 7th St, New Douglas. Free and open to
anyone in need of emotional support for any reason. Contact Larry Madorin, [email protected] or 217-272 -4560.
Tuesday, March 8
www.troymaryvillecoc.com
Play Pokeno, 1-2 pm, Main Street Community
Center, 1003 N. Main, Edwardsville. For information call 618-656-0300, www.mainstcc.org.
Greenhouse Stewards Workday, Cypress PondGreen House at The Nature Institute, 2213 S.
Levis Lane, Godfrey, 4-5 pm. Volunteers needed.
For
more
info
contact:
info@
thenatureinstitute.org or [email protected],
www.thenatureinstitute.org.
Book Club For Adults, held 2nd Tuesday of every
month, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm: Night Road by Kristin
Hannah. Join the book club on the second Tuesday of each month. New members are always
welcome, and it is not necessary to attend every
meeting. Books are provided at the Help Desk,
so stop in for the next selection! Glen Carbon
Library, 198 S. Main St, Glen Carbon.
Caddyshack 2, 7 pm, $2 Move Tuesday, The
wednesday, March 9
Duplicate Bridge is played every Wednesday, 9noon, Main Street Community Center, 1003 N.
Main, Edwardsville, Call 618-656-0300 for information, www.mainstreetcc.org.
Call 618-452-6238 x3, granitecity.illinois.gov.
Bethune-Cookman Gospel Choir, 7 pm, at United
Methodist Church, 407 Edwardsville Road, Troy.
The Inspirational Gospel Choir is a group of
Bethune Cookman University students (Located
in Daytona Beach, Florida) who minister to others
in song and praise.. A freewill offering will be received. Everyone is invited! For more information,
contact
618-667-6241
or
visit
www.troyumc.org/?event
bethune-cookmangospel-choir event_date 2016-03-09,
www.troycoc.com.
Thursday, March 10
Bible Study each Thursday 9 am @ the home of
teresakayabert.
Library Lap-Sit program, 10-1:30 am, Louis
Latzer Library, Highland. Join us for a Lap-Sit
program designed for children 18-36 months.
During these programs we read stories, sing
songs, practice finger plays and action rhymes.
The theme for March is eggs, www.highlandillibrary.org.
(continued on page 36)
I March 2016
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35
Bereavement Support Group Meeting: Looking
Forward to a New Year, 11:30-1 pm, at the SSM
Health at Home office, 20 Junction Drive West,
Suite 4, Glen Carbon. Free of charge and open to
anyone in the area who has experienced the loss
of a loved one within the past year. A light lunch
will be provided. The SSM Hospice Bereavement
offerings will be held over four Thursdays in
2016, The additional sessions are: Thursday, May
19, 2016: To Everything, There is a Season;
Thursday, September 8, 2016: Planning to Harvest
Hope; Thursday, November 3, 2016: Finding Joy
in the Holidays. For questions or reservations call
618-288-8023, www.SSMHealthAtHome.com.
Pinochle is played every Monday from 12:303 and every Thursday from 12-3 at the Main
Street Community Center, 1003 N. Main, Edwardsville. For information call 618-656-0300,
www.mainstcc.org.
Daytime Book Club, 1 pm, Main Street Community Center, 1003 N. Main, Edwardsville. Everyone welcome. Free to members of the Friends
Discount Program, $1 for all others,
www.mainstcc.org.
Blind Taste Test, the 2nd Thursday of each month,
6 pm, Milo’s Cigars & More, 2921 N. Center St
(Route 159), Maryville, 618-288-1343, and
Milos’s Tobacco Road, 228A N. Main,
Edwardsville, www.milostr.com.
FREE Care Givers Support Group, 6 pm, the 2nd
& 4th Thursday of each month at The Women’s
Ministry Center , 555 E. Bethalto Dr., Bethalto.
Call 618-803-9078 to register.
W. 3rd St, Alton, every Thurs & Fri Night from 610 pm. Open to members and non-members. Just
$5 a person or $15 a family. Members get in Free
on Thursdays! Come for dinner at Prinvicalli's
Cafe located on the second floor of the community center and then watch a movie or play games
all night! All ages welcome. For more information contact John at 618-465-9850, email [email protected]
or
visit
Children's Storytime, 6:30-7:15 pm, Louis Latzer
Library, www.highlandillibrary.org
Questions?
call
452-6238
x3,
36
I
March 2016
I
Larry Madorin,[email protected] or
217-272 -4560.
LIVE COMEDY featuring Mike Gardner, 8 pm,
State Street Grill, 118 S. State Street, Jerseyville,
618-639-FOOD. Repeat performance on Saturday, March 12th.
Thur, March 10-Sun, March 20
Alton Little Theater presents The Foreigner, 7:30
pm evenings, 2 pm weekend matinees. Admission
$17/adult, $10/student. Alton Little Theater, 2450
N. Henry Street, Alton. For tickets and more
information visit www.altonlittletheater.org.
friday, March 11
Coloring & Coffee, the second Friday of each
month at the Six Mile Regional Library, 2145
Johnson Road, Granite City, 10-11 am. A relaxing
morning of coloring, chatting and coffee! For
more information call 618-452-6422 ,
Bridge is played the 2nd & 4th Friday of each
month, 12-3 pm, Main Street Community Center,
1003 N. Main, Edwardsville, Call 618-656-0300
for information, www.mainstreetcc.org.
W. 3rd St, Alton, every Thurs & Fri Night from 610 pm. Open to members and non-members. Just
$5 a person or $15 a family. Members get in Free
on Thursdays! Come for dinner at Prinvicalli's
Cafe located on the second floor of the community center and then watch a movie or play games
all night! All ages welcome. For more information contact John at 618-465-9850, email commuor
visit
[email protected]
www.riverbender.com/communitycenter
Eagles Bingo, 7 pm, every Friday at Tri-mor
Bingo Center, 3701 Nameoki Rd, Granite City.
Great Prizes and great fun!
Winter Concert Series: Dueling Pianos, music,
comedy and sing along with Tasting by Sugo’s
Spaghetteria. 2 ticket options. 7pm show in the
theatre & 6 pm pre-show tasting in event room for
$14 or show only for $8. The Wildey Theatre, 252
N. Main, Edwardsville, www.wildeytheatre.com.
fri, March 11-Sun, March 13
PREHISTORIC ARTIFACT SHOW sponsored
by Illinois State Archaeological Society & the
GIRS, Inc. at the Gateway Center , 1 Gateway
Drive, Collinsville. Friday: 1 - 7 pm, Saturday: 8
am - 5 pm, Sunday: 8 am - 2 pm. Admission:$4
www.gatewaycenter.com.
Saturday, March 12
LaBella Fiori Greenhouse and Garden Center
opens for the season! Open daily 9-5, 18540
White City Road, Staunton, LaBellaFiori.com.
Heartland Quilters' Guild 2016 Quilt Show;
"Touched By A Ribbon"; 9 am - 4 pm; Main Street
United Methodist Church; 1400 Main St., Alton,
IL; Admission $5, children 12 and under free,
[email protected].
Tri-Township Park District Baseball, Softball, Tball registrations, 9-noon, at 410 Wickliffe. After
hour sign ups at the Park office - Community
Center, www.troycoc.com.
Restoration Day at Watershed Nature Center,
1591 Tower Ave, Edwardsville, held the 2nd Saturday of every month. from 9 am to noon. Help
the Watershed's native landscapes, spend time outdoors, and have an opportunity to connect with
other gardeners. No green thumb required,
www.watershednatureceneter.org.
A Celebration of Girl Scouts, 9:30 am to 5:00 pm,
Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower, 435 Confluence Tower Drive, Hartford. In honor of National
Girl Scout Day the tower will offer half price
tours to all active Girl Scouts and their troop leaders! Local Girl Scouts will also be on hand showcasing their projects and greeting visitors. $1 for
Active Girl Scouts; $2 for Troop Leaders,
www.confluencetower.com.
Annual St. Patrick's Festival, noon-6 pm, downtown Alton. A number of bars and establishments
have come together to celebrate the holiday with
a pub crawl. Portions of State Street, 3rd Street
and Belle Street will be closed to traffic and there
will be a shuttle to take patrons around town.
Most downtown bars, plus Hopps House at the
Argosy Casino and Johnson's Corner on State
Street are on the tour. There are food and drink
specials at all participating establishments. No
charge to participate, there are charges for drinks
& food. For more information call 618-466-9930,
www.greatriverroad.com.
Lego Club, 1-3 pm the 2nd Saturday of every
month at the Glen Carbon Library, 198 S. Main,
www.glencarbonlibrary.or
Good Shepherd Benefit Auction, 5:30-10 PM,
Good Shepherd Lutheran School, 1300 Beltline
Road - Collinsville. Tickets are $30 or a table of
8 for $225 and can be purchased at 618-344-3153,
www.troycoc.com.
A variety of other activities such as shredding, recycling, and pet adoptions will be available.
Vendors wishing to participate may contact show
coordinators at [email protected],
www.edglenchamber.com.
1st Annual Wild Mustang Mardi Gras, 6 pm,
Atrium Hotel & Conference Center, 3800 Homer
M. Adams Pkwy, Alton. $25/person. Reservations
online at www.legendarymustangsanctuary.org
For more information call, Cora at 618-444-7011
or Kathy at 618-616-8875., www.visitalton.com.
Sunday, March 13
Pancake and Homemade Whole-Hog Pork
Sausage Breakfast, 8:30 am-noon, Marine Lions
Club Hall, 406 East Division Street, Marine.
Adults/$8, children from 4-12 are $3.00, and children under the age of three are free. All carryouts
are $8.00, www.troycoc.com.
Quartermania, 6-9:15 pm, at the Wiesemeyer
Center, 410 Wickliffe, Troy. Sponsored by Troy
Historical Society and Troy Woman's Club Public
is invited ... Doors open at 6 pm,
www.troycoc.com.
LIVE MUSIC: Bud Summers, 6 pm, The Winery
at Shale, Lake, 1499 Washington Ave,
Williamson, www.shalewine.com.
Troy Titans Football Club Chicken & Beer Dance,
6:30 PM - 1:30 AM, Collinsville VFW, 1234 Vandalia Street. This will help raise funds for new
cheer uniforms and equipment. Chicken, draft keg
beer and music provided featuring the band Living Loud (www.facebook.com/livingloudband/).
Doors will open at 6:30 pm. Band starts at 8:30
pm. Bring your own sides, plates and utensils.
Raffle items, 50/50 and Barrel of Booze tickets.
Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door.
Email [email protected] for ticket inquiry or call Cindy Mahnesmith at 618-301-0477,
www.troycoc.com.
Night at the Museum, Mineral Springs Haunted
Tours, 301 E. Broadway, Alton. , 7 pm - 3 am.
Walking and Cemetery tours,$35/person, Late
Night Investigation: 11pm-3am, $50/person,
Walking, Cemetery and Night at the Museum tour
+ Late Night Investigation $85./person, Private
Investigation $50./person, (Minimum $200).
Reservations required, 1 week in advance. Reservations can be made by email at [email protected]. All touring must be
at least 13 years old, www.mineralsprings
hauntedtours.com.
Virden Lions Club presents The Glendale Riders
for their 2016 fundraiser, 7- 10 pm at the Virden
KC Hall, 1320 Dye Street. Cash bar, dancing, refreshments, 50/50 drawing, Tickets $15/person,
sold at door or from any Virden Lions Club Member. For more information call 217-965-588.
call 618-463-2429 or 618-406-9530.
LIVE COMEDY featuring Mike Gardner, 8 pm,
State Street Grill, 118 S. State Street, Jerseyville,
618-639-FOOD.
American Indian & Ethnographic at the Gateway
Center, 1 Gateway Drive, Collinsville. Saturday:
8-5 and Sunday8-2. FREE Admission,
www.gatewaycenter.com.
Metro East Home & Garden Show, 10-6, Metro
East Lutheran High School, 6305 Center Grove
Road, Edwardsville. Speakers with expertise in
home maintenance and improvement and gardening experts will be on hand to share with you.
Easter Pound Cake Order Deadline, 11-1 at The
Pentecostals, 8965 Ru. 162 ,Troy. For over 35
years, this homemade chocolate-covered, eggshaped pound cake, topped with a candy flower,
has been a Metro St. Louis favorite. Pick up date
is March 19 at Noon at the church. The cost is $12
per dozen, $6 per half-dozen. Call 618-667-6054
or email [email protected], www.troycoc.com.
Winter Lecture Series, 2 pm, Dr. Kristin Hemdan,
Illinois State Archaeological Survey presents
“Who were Cahokia’s Immigrants? - Establishing
a Strontium ‘Isoscope’ for the American Misconfident – or ‘what we can and can’t say about place
of origin for Cahokia’s immigrants. Cahokia
Mounds State Historical Site, 30 Ramey Street,
Collinsville, www. cahokiamounds.org.
Sewing Circle, 1-3 p.m. Free (meets each month
on the second and fourth Sunday.) Bring any period sewing or needlecraft project to share and/or
work on in a relaxed setting. Period sewing instruction and help are available to those wanting
to advance their skills in the production of period
garments. Both ladies and gentlemen are welcome to participate. This is an informal gathering
to share skills, ideas, and new information. The
Colonel Benjamin Stephenson House, 409 S.
Buchanan, Edwardsville,
www.stephensonhouse.org.
Monday, March 14
IMPACT Center for Independent Living offers
Low Vision and Blind Support Group meetings
on the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month from
10 am noon at the Jerseyville Public Library. IMPACT can help you achieve or maintain your independence though many of our programs. Call
Kathy Stiles 618-474-5302 or email stiles@
impactcil.org for more information,
www.impactcil.org
For information call 618-656-0300,
www.mainstcc.org.
starts at 7 pm. Food and drink available.
VFW Post 3912, 215 W. Ryder, Litchfield.
I March 2016
I
37
WEE CARE Quarter Auction, Hagnauer Granite
City Township Hall, 2060 Delmar Doors open at
6 pm, auction 7-9 pm. Great prizes for 1 or 2 quarters. Bring your own refreshments (no alcohol).
50/50 and vendor shopping spree raffle. Help a
great pre-school get materials for a playground.
The purpose of our center is to focus on the
growth of the physical, mental, social/emotional,
creative and spiritual development of the whole
child, www.granitecity.illinois.gov.
Wilderness Walk 9:30-10:45 at The Watershed
Nature Center, 1591 Tower Ave, Edwardsville.
Free event, all ages welcome. Advance registration requested. Join us for a narrated hike and explore the 1-mile trail around the Watershed Nature
Center. Bring your curiosity, questions, and keen
eye for observation as we enjoy the wetland,
prairie and forest habitats. Wilderness Walk takes
place monthly on the 3rd Tuesday of each month,
www.watershednaturecenter.com.
Sierra Club/Audubon Program on “Plight of the
Monarch”. Cindy and Kirby Pringle will present
their 22-minute documentary film concerning the
causes behind the declining population of the
monarch butterfly, its lifecycle, and what people
can do to help reverse the trend. The husband-andwife team will also talk about how they became
interested in monarch butterflies and why they decided to make the film, which has been shown on
the PBS affiliate in Charleston, IL. The program
starts at 7:30 pm at the Riverlands Audubon Center in Alton. Attendees and friends are invited to
have dinner and meet the speakers at Princivalli's
Restaurant, 602 E 3rd St, Alton, IL 62002, starting
at 5:30 p.m. Call Chris Krusa on 410-490-5024
for questions.
Library Story Time, 10-10:30 am, Louis Latzer
Library, Highland. Bring your 0-18 month old for
Infant Activity time, featuring nursery rhymes,
songs and stories, www.highlandillibrary.org
Tuesday, March 15
38
I
March 2016
I
Collinsville Christian Women's Connection. Gateway Center, 1 Gateway Drive, Collinsville, 12:152 pm. All women are invited to attend. $15 ticket
includes a delicious meal, beverage, program and
gratuity. Reservations necessary - Must be honored or cancelled. Call Barbara @ 618-344-7967
or Gloria @ 618-345-9548. www.Stonecroft.org.
For
more
info
contact:
info@
thenatureinstitute.org or [email protected],
group, at 217-324-8544.
The Help, 7 pm, $2 Movie Tuesday, The Wildey
Theatre, 252 N. Main, Edwardsville,
wednesday, March 16
9-noon, Main Street Community Center, 1003 N.
Call 618-452-6238 x3, granitecity.illinois.gov.
Venice who have sight & hearing problems, www.
granitecity.illinois.gov.
Thursday, March 17
teresakayabert.
classes as you like. Main Street Community Center, 1003 N. Main St, Edwardsville. Email:
Bethalto. Call 618-803-9078 for more information
For information call 618-656-0300, mainstcc.org.
Girl Talk, 6 pm, the 3rd Thursday of every month.
We’re keeping it positive, uplifting, and encouraging! The Women’s Ministry Center, 555 E
Bethalto Dr. Bethalto. To register call 618-8039078.
Questions?
call
452-6238
x3,
Read to Gypsy the therapy dog, 6:30-7:30 pm,
Louis Latzer Library, Highland,
www.highlandillibrary.org
Archaeological Society Meeting, 7:30 pm,
Cahokia Mounds State Historical Society,
30 Ramey Street, Collinsville. Come at 6:30 pm
to help wash artifacts, www.cahokiamounds.org.
Larry Madorin, [email protected] or
217-272 -4560.
Monthly Astronomy Association Meeting, held
the third Thursday of every month, 7 p m, Talahi
Lodge at the Olin Nature Preserve - The Nature
Institute, 2213 South Levis Lane, Godfrey. Participants will navigate the preserve with naturalist
Eddie Agha to observe and record constellations.
No telescopes are needed. Guests will also receive
short, instructional lessons about activities and
workshops associated with the program, and find
out how to join the TNI Astronomy Association.
Free. For more information or to make reservations call 618-467-2521 or email pbrown@
TheNatureInstitute.org.
friday, March 18
Follow in His Footsteps, a reenactment of Jesus'
last days on Earth at First Baptist Church, 7110
State Route 162, Maryville. Free, family-friendly,
outdoor interactive performance. Tours will run
from 6:30 - 9 p.m. each night and will last approximately one hour. Reservations can be made online at register.fbmaryville.org or by phone
618-667-8221. for tours from 6:30 - 8 p.m. each
night. Walk-ins are welcome from 8 - 9 p.m. each
night. Guests will need to be able to travel outdoors over uneven ground without the assistance
of wheelchairs, walkers, or strollers for 1/2 mile.
This event is subject to cancellation due to inclement weather. Please check register.fbmaryville.org for cancellation notices and weather
updates, www.fbmaryville.org.
Cahokia Archaeological Society Meeting, 7:30
pm. Come at 6:30 pm to help wash artifacts. Cahokia Mounds State Historical Site, 30 Ramey
Street, Collinsville, www.cahokiamounds.org.
SISTER'S EASTER CATECHISM: Will My
Bunny Go To Heaven? Celebrate the Easter Season with Sister as she answers the time worn questions of the season like "Why isn't Easter the same
day every year like Christmas?" and "Will My
Bunny Go To Heaven?" Part pageant, and
wHOLY hysterical, this latest of the sinfully funny
Late Nite Catechism series unearths the origins of
Easter bunnies, Easter eggs, Easter bonnets,
Easter baskets, and of course those yummy Easter
Peeps. Sister answers questions about pet heaven
and the significance of those adorable baby
chicks! Classroom participation is a must, so
don't forget to wear your Easter bonnet and join
Sister for this seasonal treat, 7 pm, The Wildey
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fri, March 18-Sun, March 20
International Gem & Jewelry Show, Gateway
Center, 1 Gateway Drive, Collinsville. Friday: 126, Saturday: 10-6, Sunday: 11-5. $8/person at the
door, $6/person online. MILITARY RECEIVES
FREE ADMISSION: As a "thank you" for their
service (with current military identification-offer
includes immediate family). CHILDREN 8 &
UNDER NOT PERMITTED, For additional
information, please visit www.intergem.com.
Free Trappers of Illinois Spring Rendezvous,
Camp Dubois, IL-143 and IL-3, Wood River, Saturday: 9-5, Sunday: 9-2. Celebrate the historical
period between 1700 and 1840. See demonstrators
in period clothing, a black powder shoot, a
"hawk" throw, fire starting with flint and steel
contests, children's and women's activities, period
food sales, crafts, vendor sales of period items,
contests, and much more. Period costumes required for campers and crafters. Free - donations
appreciated. For more information call 314-2232621, www.greatriverroad.com.
Saturday, March 19
Breakfast with the Easter Bunny, 8-11 am,
EVUCC Church, Highland. Tickets are $8 presale and $9 at the door. Complimentary photos
with the Easter Bunny by Voegele with each child
ticket sold. There will be Easter crafts and
a basket raffle as well, www.facebook.com/
highlandcivicwomansclub.
Annual Alton Half Marathon, Alton Amphitheater, 1 Henry Street, 8 am. From the starting line
at Alton’s Riverfront Park runners head out on an
out-and-back course that keeps them in view of
the waters of the Mississippi flowing by for nearly
the entire race. For more information visit facebook.com/Alton Half Marathon & 5K run/walk.
Tri-Township Public Library Book Sale, 9-noon,
209 South Main Street, Troy, www.troycoc.com.
The Light Kids Conference, 9-2,
United
Methodist Church, 407 Edwardsville Road, Troy.
A one day event for children in first fifth grade.
Music, recreation, 30 foot inflatable, entertainment with Andy Anderson, Magician, Bible Buzz,
Lunch, Snacks and more! To register a group from
your church or your child (children must be accompanied by an adult) please visit www.kidsconference.org. This same event will also be hosted
in two other Illinois locations in March. For more
information, contact 618-667-6241 ext 14 or
email [email protected],
www.troycoc.com.
Annual Olde Alton Vendor & Crafts Fair, Alton
High School, 4200 Humbert Road, 9-4. The Alton
Band & Orchestra Builders hosts annual event.
There will be many booths of crafters selling their
best wares. Chris Cakes Pancakes and sausage
breakfast will be available ($5 in advance - $6 at
door). All proceeds benefit the instrumental music
program in the Alton School District. Free admission. For more information call 618-474-6996,
www.greatriverroad.com.
bike with helmets provided by TCA. Egg Hunts
will be divided into 4 groups: Ages 0-2,
Ages
5-6, Ages 3-4, Ages 7 and up, www.troycoc.com.
Spring Open House, 10 am - 6 pm, at Sweet Ashley’s Cottage, 120 W. Central Ave, Bethalto. 10%
off storewide, new products preview, door prizes,
refreshments and more.
www.sweetashleyscottage.com.
Spring Equinox Celebration and Butterfly Puddles, 2-4 pm, La Vista Ecological Learning Center, 4300 Levis Lane, Godfrey. You might have
noticed in the summer how butterflies cluster
around damp spots on a dirt path or road. Those
butterflies aren't thirsty; rather, they are "puddling," searching in a wet area for minerals they
need to be healthy. Join us and find out how we
created puddles for La Vista's pollinator garden so
you can make one in your own yard. Join us and
become apart of a growing movement to create
necessary habitats for our insect friends. Call 618466-5004 to register and leave your name and the
number attending. Please bring a spring time
snack to share. Optional donations are welcomed,
www.lavistaelc.org.
AnnuAl highlAnD EAStEr Egg
hunt, Downtown Square, 2 pm. For children
from toddlers to third grade - hunt eggs filled with
candy, coupons and prizes donated by merchants,
www.highlandillinois.com.
MAkE A wiSh EAStEr Egg hunt, American Legion, 1022 Vandalia St, Collinsville, 12-4
pm. Egg hunt for kids and adults, pictures with
the Easter Bunny and a magic show at 2 pm. Vendors/crafters are supplying items for a ticket raffle
and 50/50 proceeds to go to "Make A Wish". Raffle winners will be announced at 3:00pm, if you
are not present we will call you to come back before 4pm to claim your winnings. Dr. Darins Chiropractor will be there with free Spinal screening.
Amway, Norwex, Homemade jams and jellies,
baked goods, usborne books, hand crafted items
and many more. Egg Hunt: 1 pm for ages 0-2;
1:15 pm ages 3-5; 1:30 ages 6-10. For more information visit www.facebook.com/events/
1673722099567834/ or www.facebook.com/
vendorcraftfairactivities/timeline,
Easter Program, 1-1:45 pm, at the Louis Latzer
Library, featuring a visit from the Easter bunny
with stories, snacks and a craft,
www.highlandillibrary.org.
LIVE MUSIC: Butch Moore, 6 pm, The Winery
at Shale, Lake, 1499 Washington Ave,
Volunteer Day at The Nature Institute, 2213 S.
Levis Lane, Godfrey, 9-noon. Want to lend a helping hand, but you aren’t sure what to assist with?
Join TNI every third Saturday of the month to assist with different projects. You could assist with
prep for different events or head out into the preserve for tail work. Call the TNI office at
618-466-9930 with any questions,
7th AnnuAl EAStEr EggStrAvAgAnzA, 10-noon, Tri-Township Park, Troy.
Easter Bunny, Egg Hunt, Face Painting, Balloon
Artist, Raffle with prizes being a girls and boys
Owl Prowl, 7-9 pm, Talahi Lodge at the Olin Nature Preserve - The Nature Institute, 2213 South
Levis Lane, Godfrey. Learn about owls and then
head on a hike to search for them within the Olin
Nature Preserve. Starting at 7 pm, Treehouse
Wildlife Center will be on site with live owls in
Talahi Lodge. See the beautiful creatures up-close
and personal while the experts and handlers give
information about these nocturnal friends. Then
follow TNI education director Patti Brown on the
trails of the Olin Nature Preserve to listen and see
native owls in their own territory.$10 per person,
$8 for TNI members to benefit the mission of The
Nature Institute of preservation, restoration, and
education. Pre-registration is highly encouraged.
Call 618-466-9930 or email [email protected], www.thenatureinstitute.org.
SISTER'S EASTER CATECHISM: Will My
Bunny Go To Heaven? Celebrate the Easter Season with Sister as she answers the time worn questions of the season like "Why isn't Easter the same
day every year like Christmas?" and "Will My
Bunny Go To Heaven?" Part pageant, and
wHOLY hysterical, this latest of the sinfully funny
Late Nite Catechism series unearths the origins of
Easter bunnies, Easter eggs, Easter bonnets,
Easter baskets, and of course those yummy Easter
Peeps. Sister answers questions about pet heaven
and the significance of those adorable baby
chicks! Classroom participation is a must, so
don't forget to wear your Easter bonnet and join
Sister for this seasonal treat, 7:30 pm, The Wildey
call 618-463-2429 or 618-406-9530.
Sunday, March 20
Spring Equinox Sunrise Observance, 6:45 am,
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, 30 Ramey
Street, Collinsville. Observe the spring equinox
sunrise and learn of the discovery, form and function of an ancient post circle called Woodhenge
that was used as a solar calendar by the Cahokians. Free, for more information call 618-3465160, www.greatriverroad.com.
Bethalto Knights of Columbus Scholarship Program Buffet Style Chicken Dinner, 11-2. Adults
$10/Children $5 (5 to 10 yrs. old).
Dinner served in OLQP School Gym at 132
Butcher S, Bethalto, IL. Carry Outs Available.
Public Welcome. All you can eat menu includes
fried chicken, chicken strips, mashed potatoes &
gravy, mac-cheese, vegetable, applesauce, dessert
and drink. For more information contact John
Wagner, KC Publicity Fundraiser Director, 618377-6956 or email [email protected].
Best of Maryville Art Contest and Show, 1-3 pm,
Community Center, 500 E. Division. For more information and Best of Maryville applications,
visit the website or call 618-772-8555,
www.troycoc.com.
Quarter Auction to benefit the Historic James J.
Eldred House, 2 pm at Garners in Roodhouse, IL.
Doors will open 1 pm. Help us raise money to
continue restoring the House. Anyone wishing to
donate an items for the Auction should contact
Seth or Darcy on the Historic James J Eldred
House Facebook site. We also have limited space
for vendors. If interested, please contact
[email protected].
goDFrEy EAStEr Egg hunt, 2-4 pm,
Glazebrook Park Ball Fields, 1401B Stamper
Lane. Children will be divided into age groups to
search for prize-filled eggs. The event will also
include several activities for children up to age 10.
Bring your own basket. Pictures with the Easter
Bunny will be provided compliments of Dream
Home Realty Centre, Inc. Donations of non-perishable food items will be accepted for local community food banks. We hope you can make it out
to this EGG-cellent event, www.godfreyil.org.
Alton Concerts presents: The Courthouse Steps at
3 pm. This group of singing attorneys who poke
fun at national and local events taken from the
headlines may make it easier to live through all
the media hype! Dedicated to the venerable legal
principle of equal opportunity jabs, The Courthouse Steps features parodies that will have you
rolling on both sides of the aisle. Their material is
continually updated to cover the national and local
political scenes! Advance tickets: Adults/$25;
Children (12 and under)-$10.00. At the door
:Adults-$27, Children (12 and under)-$10,
www.altonconcerts.org.
Route 143, Millersburg, 618-669-2155.
Monday, March 21
Spring Equinox Sunrise Hike, 7 am, The Nature
Institute,2213 S. Levis Lane, Godfrey. Hike with
us before work to celebrate the changing of the
seasons. We will meet at Talahi Lodge bright and
early and head out for a refreshing spring hike!
This guided hike is free and open to the public.
For more information, call 618-466-9930,
www.visitalton.com
.
Euchre is played the 1st and 3rd Monday of each
month, 9:30-11:30 am, Main Street Community
Center, 1003 N. Main, Edwardsville, Call 618656-0300 for information, www.mainstreetcc.org.
NARFE Alton Chapter 575 will hold their March
monthly meeting at the Senior Services Plus Center, 2603 Rodgers Ave. Lunch in the School Room
Grill at 11 am, Business Meeting in the Wood
Carvers' Room at noon. Come join us. For more
information call 618-377-1242.
Call 618-656-0300, www.mainstcc.org.
Library Chess Club, 4-5:30 pm, Louis Latzer Library, Highland. Nic Weiss will be here to instruct
beginners and new strategies to those that already
know how to play chess. This club is for children
kindergarten and older, highlandillibrary.org.
starts at 7 pm. Food and drink available.
VFW Post 3912, 215 W. Ryder, Litchfield.
Macoupin County Historical Society annual
spring membership banquet, 6 pm, Gillespie Civic
Center, musical entertainment by Dan St.. Onge,
$8.50 per person, reservations due by March 11.
For more information email [email protected].
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anyone in need of emotional support for any
reason. Contact Larry Madorin, madorin@
frontiernet.net or 217-272 -4560.
Tuesday, March 22
For info email: [email protected] or
[email protected], thenatureinstitute.org.
Spring 2016 Community Expo presented by the
Troy • Maryville • St. Jacob • Marine Chamber of
Commerce, 5:30-7:30 pm, at Triad High School
in Troy. Featuring over 75 vendors plus drawings,
games, great food, refreshments, attendance
prizes and more. Dozens of eggs will be hidden
at each vendor booth and each egg contains a
prize! Special guest appearance by the Easter
Bunny - bring your camera and take a picture with
the Easter Bunny. For more information call 618667-8769 or visit www.TroyMaryvilleCOC.com.
Emotions Anonymous meets every Tuesday at
6 pm at the Louis Latzer Library, 1001 9th Street,
Easter Parade, 7 pm, $2 Movie Tuesday, The
wednesday, March 23
Bethalto Knights of Columbus Red Cross Blood
Drive, 4-8 pm, Bethalto Senior Citizens Center,
100 E. Central St., Bethalto.
Jazzercise Classes every Monday and Wednesday,
5:30 pm and every Saturday, 8:30 am. Main Street
See instructor for fees. Call 618-656-0300 for
more information or email [email protected].
Call 618-452-6238 x3,
Monthly Moonlight Hike, 7 pm, Talahi Lodge at
the Olin Nature Preserve - The Nature Institute,
2213 South Levis Lane, Godfrey. Take a leisurely
moonlit hike through the Mississippi Sanctuary, a
37-acre area of grand vistas and spectacular
scenery, including waterfalls and wildlife. Terrain
is light to moderate and the hike is about an hour
long. Free. For more information call 618-4669930, www.thenatureinstitute.org.
Spring Break Block Party/EAStEr Egg
hunt, 7-8:30 p m, The Pentecostals of Troy,
8965 Rt. 162, Troy. Age specific egg hunts, fun,
games, prizes and more, all free. For more information visit www.pentecostalsoftroy.org, Like
The Pentecostals of Troy on Facebook, Follow
them @PentecostalTroy on Twitter, email
[email protected] or call 667-6054,
www.troycoc.com.
Thursday, March 24
teresakayabert.
www.mainstcc.org.
www.riverbender.com/communitycenter
Questions? call 452-6238 x3,
425 Old Alton Road, Granite City. www.granitecity.illinois.gov.
217-272 -4560.
Thur, March 24-Sat, March 26
Stork Lady Consignment Sale, Gateway Center,
1 Gateway Drive, Collinsville. Thursday: 9-7, Friday: 9-6. Saturday: 10-3. FREE Admission. For
information visit www.storkladysale.com.
friday, March 25
Saturday, March 26
Meet the Easter Bunny Saturday, from 10-2 at the
Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower, 435 Confluence Tower Drive, Hartford. Bring the kids to
meet the magical Easter bunny and receive a free
treat! Take a tour of the Tower afterwards. All
children receive half price Tower Tours. The
Easter Bunny meet and greet is free and open to
the public, www.confluencetower.com.
American Girl Club, 1-3 pm, the 4th Saturday of
every month at the Glen Carbon Library, 198 S.
Main, www.glencarbonlibrary.org.
call 618-463-2429 or 618-406-9530.
LIVE MUSIC featuring THE GEEZERS, State
Street Grill, 118 S. State Street, Jerseyville, 618639-FOOD. NO COVER CHARGE!
Sunday, March 27
Easter Sunrise Services, starts at 7:30 am, Lewis
& Clark Confluence Tower, 435 Confluence
Tower Drive, Hartford. Open to the public and
breakfast will be provided. For more information,
call 618-251-9101, www.confluencetower.com.
Sewing Circle, 1-3 p.m. Free (meets each month
on the second and fourth Sunday.) Bring any period sewing or needlecraft project to share and/or
work on in a relaxed setting. Period sewing instruction and help are available to those wanting
to advance their skills in the production of period
garments. Both ladies and gentlemen are welcome to participate. This is an informal gathering
to share skills, ideas, and new information. The
Colonel Benjamin Stephenson House, 409 S.
Buchanan, Edwardsville,
www.stephensonhouse.org.
Monday, March 28
www.mainstcc.org.
Lego Club, 4-5 pm, Louis Latzer Library, Highland. Children of all ages have access to the library's lego blocks and make a creation based on
a random theme selected each month,
www.highlandillibrary.org.
starts at 7 pm. Food and drink available. VFW
of 29th and State. For more information call
618-452-6238 or visit www.smrld.org.
Adult Nature Club, 7-8:30 pm, The Nature Institute, 2213 S. Levis Lane, Godfrey. Each month
we discuss different topics that will help you be a
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responsible citizen to Mother Earth such as; how
to grocery shop responsibly, how to compost and
why we recycle, and where does our recycling go.
These workshops are free and open to the public.
Meets the last Monday night of each month September through April, www.thenatureinstitute.org.
Call 618-452-6238 x3,
Puppets of Praise, Blacklight Puppet Show, 7-8
pm, The Pentecostals, 8965 Rt. 162, Troy. For
more information visit pentecostalsoftroy.org,
Like The Pentecostals of Troy on Facebook, Follow them @PentecostalTroy on Twitter, email
[email protected] or call 667-6054.
Tuesday, March 29
Sit-n-Sew meets every Tuesday from 10-4. Stay
for an hour or stay all day! Bring your machine
and your UFOs (unfinished objects) Main Street
Mini Mall Quilt Shop, 124 East Main, Staunton,
618-635-5509, [email protected].
Email
[email protected]
or
[email protected], thenatureinstitute.org.
Emotions Anonymous meets every Tuesday at
6 pm at the Louis Latzer Library, 1001 9th Street,
group, at 217-324-8544.
The Bad News Bears, 7 pm, $2 Movie Tuesday,
The Wildey Theatre, 252 N. Main, Edwardsville,
wednesday, March 30
Main, Edwardsville, Call 618-656-0300 for
information, www.mainstreetcc.org.
Dance Fitness Exercise Class, every Wednesday,
1-2 pm. $5/session (First visit FREE) Main
Street Community Center, 1003 N. Main, Edwardsville. 618-656-0300, or by email at
[email protected].
Thursday, March 31
teresakayabert.
Bethalto. Call 618-803-9078 for more information.
www.mainstcc.org.
Ladies Book Club, 6 pm, the 1st Thursday of
every month. The Women’s Ministry Center, 555
E Bethalto Dr. Bethalto. To register call 618-8039078.
Questions? call 452-6238 x3,
Junior Friends Of The Glen Carbon Library, 6:30
pm. the first Thursday of the month. Visit the
Youth Services Department to sign up. Glen Carbon Library, 198 S. Main, Glen Carbon,
www.glencarbonlibrary.org
217-272-4560.
SaVe THe daTeS!
friday, april 1
Frog Walk: Session 1, 7-8 pm. The Watershed
Nature Center, 1591 Tower Ave, Edwardsville.
One of our most popular events, led by expert
Paul Shetley. Put on your rubber boots and grad a
flashlight and follow Paul as he carefully collects
living specimens of the various frog species living
at the Watershed for an exciting wetland “show
and tell.” Members free, non members $5.
Register at www.watershednaturecenter.org.
Saturday, april 2
Spring Wildflower Walk and Work Day in the
Oblate Woods Preserve: Honeysuckle Pull 9:00
am - Noon, and Wildflower Walk 1:00 pm - 3:00
pm. Led by Natural Areas Preservation Specialist
Debbie Newman, we will venture into the beautiful Woods Preserve to see what has sprung up
since the removal of invasive honeysuckle. Last
year we spotted Wistar's Coralroot, a native orchid. Maybe we will be even luckier this year!
After the walk we will pull honeysuckle and other
invasives that have emerged this season. Registration: Call 618-466-5004 and leave your name
and the number attending. Lunch: Please bring
your own no-waste lunch. Tea and herbal drinks
will be provided. If possible, please bring work
gloves and a lopper. La Vista Ecological Learning
Center, 4300 Levis Lane, Godfrey,
www.lavistaelc.org.
Heartland Prairie Restoration Day, Gordon Moore
Park, 4501 College Ave, Alton, 9-noon. Join us
for a workday at the 60-acre Heartland Prairie, located off of Rt. 140, across from Gordon Moore
Park every first Saturday in the months of April
through October. Volunteers will be helping to remove invasive plants and shrubs from the prairie,
woodland and savanna. Please be sure to wear
protective clothing and sturdy shoes. Volunteers
are also encouraged to bring gloves, water, clippers or loppers if you have them. Some tools will
be available on site. A light lunch will be provided
afterwards. Please call the The Nature Institute office at 618-466-9930 with any questions,
Tri-Township Public Library Book
9-noon, 209 South Main Street, Troy,
www.troycoc.com.
Sale,
Southern Charms Luncheon & Fashion Show,
$22/person, 11:30-1 at Alton Little Theater, 2450
N. Henry Street, Alton. Enjoy the ambiance of the
Dorothy Colonius foyer at the Showplace as
TWO Rivaling "Scarletts" dish out some wit &
Wisdom about fashion, men and the challenge of
finding just the right luncheon menu. For more information, call 618-462-3205. lunch provided by
My Just Desserts, www.visitalton.com.
LIVE MUSIC: Lowder and Manning, 6 pm, The
Winery at Shale, Lake, 1499 Washington Ave,
fri, april 8-Sun, april 11
The first Vintage Market of 2016 at My Treasure
House, 4230 State Route 159, Glen Carbon.
Packed with unique and wonderful items created
by local artisans. Free Admission! Booth space
still available. Call 618-288-2140 and find My
Treasure House on Facebook. Other Vintage
Markets scheduled for June 3-5, Aug 19-21 and
Nov 4-6.
Sunday, april 10
The first Litchfield Pickers Market of the 2016
season in downtown Litchfield. Will be held the
2nd Sunday of each month, April - October. Vintage, Antiques, Collectibles and Re-Purposed
items for sale, plus food vendors and live entertainment.
For more information visit
www.VisitLitchfield.com.
fri, april 15-Sat, april 16
VINTAGE YARD SALE, 8 am - noon each day,
in the huge building behind Peacock Bakery, 817
Ninth Street, Highland. For more info contact
Mike Finley, 314-341-2389 or email
[email protected].
Saturday, May 7
Lakeview Garden Club Plant and Bake Sale, 8 am
to noon, 244 Lakeview Acres Drive, Collinsville.
Large selection of reasonably priced plants and
baked goods. Gardening advice is free. Proceeds
of sale used to support education, plantings, and
appreciation of the landscape through projects at
schools, senior centers, parks and Habitat for Humanity homes. For more information call Patti
618-530-3051.
Email events to:
[email protected].
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the classifieds
BUsInEssEs OPPOrTUnITIEs
DrAStiC priCE rEDuCtion on high traffice IL Route 4 in the heart of downtown Gillespie, this commercial property is currently a used
furniture store but could be anything. Double
building features over 3,700 sq feet of retail space
on the lower level PLUS FOUR 2-bedroom apartments upstairs that are all rented! All apartments
were remodeled in 2000 and have new windows
in front and back, water heaters are 2-3 years old,
and electrical boxes new this year. Inventory of
the retail store can be purchased separately.
Motivated seller is only asking $105,000 but will
entertain offers. For more information or a private
showing call 217-825-3035.
rEtAil SpACE in gillESpiE For rEnt:
Over 3,700 sq ft of retail space, currently a used
furniture store but could be anything. Rent for
just $500/month! See at 102 Macoupin, Gillespie.
For more information call 217-825-3035.
proFitAblE buSinESS For SAlE Lighthouse Antique Mall which has been operating
profitably for the past 7 years is now for sale.
55 booths, currently all rented. High visibility to
Interstate 55 with easy access. For information
call 217-324-6111.
Do you hAvE thE DrEAM? Historic
Restaurant, built circa 1875, in Highland, IL for
sale. Turn-key business with friendly ghosts included in price is less than 5 miles from I-70. Serious buyers only can call for more information:
618-277-4400. Ask for Michael Pierceall,
BARBERMurphy Group.
propErty For SAlE - industrial or residential site with city utilities. Various plots to choose
from. Two hay crops a year. Virden, IL. Call
217-965-3551. (ufn)
rEntAlS For SAlE - 3 apartments and caryout pizza business, all currently leased with
$1800/month income. Newly remodeled including appliances, roof, etc. Asking $135,000. Will
consider contract for deed. Call 217-415-6061.
HOMEs/aPTs FOr salE/rEnT
For SAlE or lEASE: 2 BR/1 BA home in
Benld with full basement and huge 3 1/2 car
garage. Laminate floors in kitchen and bath. Includes stove/refrigerator/dishwasher. Purcahse
for $69,500 or lease for $650/month. Becomes
available May 1. Call 217-415-6061 for information.
FurniShED 1 br ApArMEnt for rent in
Highland. Full bath, eat-in kitchen, living room.
Inside historic building just one block off the
downtown square. $550/month includes trash,
cable and wi-fi. No smoking, no pets, no exceptions. First and last month’s rent plus security
deposit required. Call 618-654-4711.
2 rooMS For rEnt - with full private bath.
$250/month, includes utilities. Near SIUE in Edwardsville. Female preferred. Call 618-671-0150
for more information (ufn).
niCE houSE For A niCE priCE - Well
built 2/3 BR, 2 BA brick ranch. Hardwood floors,
remodeled bathroom, 1958 sq ft. 112 Midway
Ave, Cottage Hills, IL. Good value for $86,900.
Call for appointment. 618-604-9723. (ufn)
houSE For SAlE - Updated and move-in
ready! All new 2 1/2 ton central air, new BR carpet, new windows, new kitchen cabinets, countertops, sink, vinyl floor. New weatherhead (elec
service). Newly finished basement family room,
2nd BR and storage room. Water heater, furnace
& roof not 5 years old. One car garage with workroom, bench & cabinets. Granite City. $56,450
OBO. 618-656-8571 or 618-250-9632.
1 br ApArtMEnt for rent. Water/heat/trash
included for $450/month. Security deposit and
1 year lease required. Staunton, 618-444-7222.
2 br ApArtMEnt for rent with washer/ dryer
hookups. Includes water/heat/trash. Security deposit and 1 year lease required. $600/month.
Staunton, 618-444-7222.
aUTOMOTIvE
thrEE uSED vEhiClES For SAlE 1998
Ford Contour, 103k miles, $1,500; 2002 Mercury
Mountaineer AWD 183k miles, $4,200; 2000
Chevy Blazer 4WD, 137K miles, $2,000 OBO.
Call 217-741-4713 or 217-532-5685 Leave message.
2001 rED MuStAng ConvErtiblE, V6,
$1500. Call 618-477-7297 or 618-656-0310.
1984 DuMp truCk, rock bed, $1000. Call
618-477-7297 or 618-656-0310.
1950'S CASE trACtor rADiAtor and
nose...red..make an offer. Call 217 891 1600
Also 1 Pair high bACk with hEADrESt
/rED vinyl CAr SEAtS, on adjustable slide.
$150.00 for pair, 217-891-1600 .
2012 kAi kAi SCootEr 150 cc with only 20
miles on it. Owned by senior citizen that cannot
ride. $1195 or best offer, 217-320-3311.
2007 yamaha 650 cc Silverado Dark Blue
w/ Saddle Bags and Helmet, 500 miles, $3900
OBO located near Mt. Olive, 217-246-4868 .
1975 holiDAy Motor hoME, class c, 22
ft., Dodge 360, $1000 or best offer. Needs TLC.
Call 618-477-7297 or 618-656-0310.
2001 Dodge ram 6cyl 116,000 miles
new brakes, ball joints, bedliner, remote stereo
radio. $2500.00. Call 217-324-5943 leave message.
Chevy 409 Engine, complete rebuilt, all new,
Muncie 4-speed, $6,000. Call 618-567-6060.
2005 honda 750 Shadow, approx. 8000 miles.
With windshield, light cluster bars, rider seat and
back rest, leather saddle bags, whole bike cover.
In good condition. Only $3400. Please call 217710-7957 after 7PM.
1984 DuMp truCk, (rock, sand, gravel bed
on it), $1,000, 618-477-7297 or 618-656-0310.
2003 handicap Dodge grand Caravan, 56,xxx
miles, $18,500 or best offer. 217-259-6948.
1992 Chevy Sports van, 111,xxx miles, $3500
OBO, 217-259-6948. (UFN).
FUrnITUrE
king wood headboard with mirror, 2 years old,
excellent condition. Benld 217-710-3387.
Dining room table with 6 chairs, 1 leaf and
china hutch. $450 OBO. 618-791-8109 or 618791-2025.
AMiSh MADE walnut wall-mount drop lid
desk 24” x 31” x 7” in Sorento. $200 OBO. 217272-4481. Leave message if no answer.
oAk trEStlE tAblE with 4 straight and 2
captain chairs, plus 2 leaves to expand to 83”. All
sturdy and solid. Asking $600. 618-656-9388.
anTIQUEs/COllECTIBlEs
AntiQuE walk behind snow blower, steel
wheels, runs good and looks like new, $250, 618558-6918.
AntiQuE walk behind snow blower, steel
wheels, runs good and looks like new, $250, 618558-6918.
AntiQuE Cunningham walk behind garden
tractor, $150, 618-558-6918.
wE buy EStAtES , full or partial houses,
sheds, barns, etc. Call Village Square Antiques
for more information, 618-669-2825, www.antiquesvillagesquare.com.
Antique Child’s roll top Desk with matching
swivel chair. Excellent condition. Call 217-3244160 for information. (UFN)
wAnting to buy WWII, WWI, Korea, and
Vietnam military relics. Cash paid by collector for
uniforms, helmets, medals, swords, leather flight
jackets, scrapbooks, etc. 217 851-3177. (UFN)
wAnting to buy old comic books, magazines and books. Call 314-351-1302.
wAnting to buy old records, blues, rock,
jazz. Call 314-821-7466. (UFN)
wAnting to buy OLD Boats, OLD boat
motors, 1900’s to 1960’s, wood or aluminum runabouts, any unusual boats, motors, outboard racing. Cash paid. Call Mark 314-602-5368. (UFN)
wAntED license plate 1911 Illinois, or ... what
do you have? 618-931-7527.
wAnting to buy Sheet music and records
33 lps, 45 rpm, 78 rpm, must be in very good
shape. Call Jim at 618-304-7188 or 618-6543049.
wAnting to buy OLD postcards, Civil War
photos and vintage paper items. Always paying
cash. Call Jerry for details at 618-410-6879.
MIsC FOr salE
pEpSi MAChinE small bottle model #VF81PSAP, serial #10209B41C, Vendorlator. Call 618535-9433.
StAinlESS StEEl Sink - 9' long x 28” deep
by 38” tall with 6” backsplach and deep well sink
with faucet. Under counter top are two shelves
and large drawers. Call 618-377-0452.
inDiAn ArrowhEADS and misc artifacts.
Call 217-710-9758 for more information.
3 point hitCh KIT + BRACKETS for IH,
$500, 618-558-6918.
35 glASS inSulAtorS both clear and green,
$100 for all, 217-324-3869.
DiSC for David-Bradley walk-behind garden
tractor, $75, 618-558-6918.
vEnDor booth SpACE available at Wayside Antique Mall, Highway 127 between Hillsboro and Greenville. Call 217-537-3900 for more
information.
rough Cut CEDAr luMbEr, 15 each of
2” x 4” x 16’, 6 each of 1” x 6” x 16’, 6 each of
2” x 6” x 16’. Planed cedar lumber, 12 each of
1” x 4” x 12’, 20 each of tongue and grooved 1”
x 6” x 8’-10’, all sizes and lengths of coarse grain
oak barn lumber. Also have creosote lumber, 50
each of 1/2” x 4” x 30’, 20 each of 1/2” x 8” x 12’.
Call 217-710-9758 for more information.
ShAwnEE pottEry I’m downsizing my collection, have over 200 pieces for sale. Will sell
individual or as many as you want. Jerseyville
618-498-2747 for information.
AntiQuE toyS wAntED: private collector
pays cash for old toy trucks, cars, trains, pedal
cars, bicycles, Tonka trucks, etc, pre-1970. Always buying. Please call 618-420-3684 (UFN)
CuStoM MADE pEtE SAgAr 15” roping SADDlE with saddle bags made into the
saddle and matching breast strap. Must see!
$1,100 or best offer. Call 217-710-9758 for more
information.
wAntED to buy: antique pie safe, jelly cupboard, flat and stepback cupboards, dental cabinet and unique antiques. Even if in poor
condition. 618-377-0432 (UFN)
niCE lEAthEr CoAt by JC Penney, size 1214, Costumes, size M, La-Z-Boy lunge chair. Call
618-635-2477 for more information.
wAntED to buy... old postcards, photographs, stereoviews, posters, WWII and before
military items, old toys and trains, glass lantern
slides, advertising items, documents, letterheads
and billheads, most any vintage paper items and
ephemera, collections and accumulations okay. If
it is unusual and old I am interested in looking at
it! Please call Mike Finley, 314-524-9400 or 314341-2389, or email: [email protected].
MAStErbuilt ElECtriC turkEy
FryEr $75.00, Craftsman 10" radial arm saw
$200.00, Ertl John Deer pedal tractor stock#520,
$200, 60's era original school desk, bottom portion blue, flip up top, storage below, swivel seat
$40.00. Call 618-836-7572.
SMAll rubbErMAiD StorAgE bin
Opens at top/front, good condition. Tan, $45, 217324-3869.
find The Buzz online at www.theBuzzMonthly.com
46
I
March 2016
I
grEEn turtlE ShApED plAy pit holds
sand/water, has lid, $25, 217-324-3869.
lArgE MArlboro log hAMMoCk
with carrying bag. Good condition, $65 217-3243869.
plAStiC gAS CAnS lot of several, no lids,
make offer. Several 5”-6” push mower tires, $4
each, 217-324-3869.
CoSCo bAby bAth SEAt, good condition,
$25, “Daisy” pink rocking horse, very good condition, $40. Call 217-324-3869.
CASino Slot MAChinES-Two authentic
slot machines, one $.25 and one $1.00 in good operating condition. Uses coins or tokens. Call 618978-8606
hAnDMADE CuStoM birD houSES, All
shapes, sizes and prices. For more information
call
217-899-7491,
or
email
[email protected]. Can email photos.
Fruit JAr CollECtion For SAlE
618-259-4621.
hEAtED wAtEr buCkEt, $10, 2 dog carriers, 1 XL, $45, regular $25, 618-789-4227.
tiME ShArE For SAlE - 3 BR in Kissimmee, Florida just 5 minutes from Disneyworld.
Taxes and maintenance fees already paid for
2015, Four 7-day trips coming this year. Don’t
miss out on this opportunity, 618-610-4798.
1967 Massey Ferguson 36” riding Mower to
restore - no motor. Deck and transmission okay,
$150. Call 217-324-3869.
nEw 32’ Aluminum peligro ladder. Used once.
$275. Call 217-965-3551 (UFN)
42" Front blade for John Deere LX Series Lawn
Tractor. All brackets, Very good condition.
$200.00 217-324-3994.
Jerry James 22 ft. utility trailer with all steel
floor and electric brakes. Excellent tires. Each
axle rated for 7000 lbs. Loading ramps included.
Asking $2100 OBO. Call 618-692-6082.
german translation Service by experience
speaker/translator. Genealogical documents,
church records, letters, diaries, journals, etc. Reasonable rates. Email: [email protected].
Selmer Alto Saxophone, made in USA, with
pearl keys and Bundy case. $500. Leave message
if no answer. 618-659-2061. (UFN)
gEtting MArriED? Consider our historic
country chapel for your wedding or even just your
reception. This quaint church sits on 1.87 acres
close to Lake Carlyle and is available for rental
year ‘round. Call 618-654-4711 for more information/reservations.
Sears & roebuck rug loom - 2 harness loom.
$500 OBO. Located in Bunker Hill. Call 217556-9428. (UFN)
JAzzy-SElECt powEr ChAir, new batteries, new controller, 217-324-3592.
Custom teddy bears hand made from your old
fur coats, other articles of clothing, neckties, baby
clothes, quilts, blankets, etc. Perfect for remembering family members, or as gifts. Bears are 5way jointed, glass eyes, hand sewn noses, stuffed
with polyester filling. Sizes and prices vary according to your choices. Samples and pictures on
hand. 25 years experience, Alton, 618-462-8326.
nEw rED ADult triCyClE (3-wheel)
built special by Workman Cycles of New York, all
steel construction, heavy duty, wide tires. Has
large basket, chrome fenders, mirror, special large
seat and safety flag. Selling because I am unable
to ride. Paid $1200, including assembly and shipping, must have $900 firm. Call 217-532-6298.
1951 Farmall Cub tractor has cultivators, snow
plow, 42” belly mower, disc, one bottom plow,
cycle bar mower, wheel weights and tire chains.
$5000 for all. Call 618-362-6468.
MIsC ads
SpAniSh intErprEtEr & translator. 15
years experience, medically certified interpreter.
Available for legal, law enforcement, social services, healthcare. Translation of certificates and
documents. Email [email protected].
Carlinville area. (3/16)
MEnDing & Minor AltErAtionS done
by Marilan in Staunton. Call 618-635-2102.
in nEED oF CASh? Expert private collector
paying cash for antiques, musical instruments,
GOLD & SILVER jewelry, costume jewelry, old
coins, pocketwatches. Paying top $$$ in CASH.
Just paid one person over $2,000 for old unwanted
broken jewelry. Will travel to you! Call Anthony
at 740-808-4878.
wAntED: Deutz Land 2 cylinder tractor, also
Deutz tractor literature, 618-558-6918.
wAntED good used semi box trailer 45’-50’ or
shorter at reasonable price for storage. Call 217324-3869.
wAnting SoMEonE to Do AltErAtionS in the Litchfield area, 217-324-3869.
FrEE
FrEE EStiMAtES: American Steel carports
and buildings starting at $695. Includes delivery
and installation. Call Chuck Payne, JC Enterprises, 217-556-4271.
Email classified ads to:
[email protected].
Discover how to get FrEE pampered Chef
products call Pam Schaefer, Independent Consultant for The Pampered Chef, at 217-556-9390
or email [email protected]. (UFN)
WanTEd
wAntED - Vendors for the 6th Annual Build
Benld Craft Fair and Flea Market to be held on
Saturday, May 7th at the Benld Civic Center.
Vendors set up evening an Saturday morning.
Doors open to the publice 9 am-2 pm. Rental
space is $25/per 8’ table. Registrations now being
accepted . For information or to request registration contact Norm Emmons at 217-835-2130.
Registration also available on Build Benld Facebook page!
Diabetic test Strips wanted Unexpired, any
type, any brand. Will pay up to $10/box. Call
Ron @217-556-3398. Please leave call back
number. (ufn).
Can you give us our fur-ever Home?
DAwn
MEg
is a beautiful medium
sized adult Shetland SheepdogSheltie Mix. Find more out
about her and all of our adoptable animals at
partnersforpetsil.org.
is a young LabGreyhound mix. She is a little
timid when she first meets new
people but warms up and loves
affection. She was brought in
with her brother Darren and
would love go a new home
together! Visit them at the
s helter, any afternoon, 1-5 pm.
Adopt A Pet
807 Stewart Road, Benld,
217-835-2538
benldadoptapet.org.
MuFFin
is a very laid back
1 year old Lab mix. Sweet Muffin
would make the perfect family
AnniE is a 50 pound Aus- dog. Adoption applications are on
tralian Shepherd-Border Collie our website at MEhS.org.
mix, and 3.5 years old. She gets
along well with everyone and is Metro East humane Society •
super smart! If you are interested, 618-656-4405
please complete an adoption 8495 State Rt143 • Edwardsville
application at mcpawscare.org.
OPEN: Mon-Sat • 11:30-5
Sun • 11:30-3
Partners For Pets
Rescue and Rehab Animal Shelter
Troy, Illinois
(618) 540-PETS (7387)
www.partners4pets.petfinder.com
I March 2016
I
47

family with a Side of Pancakes Kumar`s Cafe in Wood River

Transcription

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