ORIGINALLY WRITTEN
Tree of Life lighting
set for Dec. 2, 3 & 5
Central Homecare & Hospice and Friends of Hospice will hold Tree of Life lighting ceremonies in December.
The following dates have been scheduled for 7 p.m.:
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Monday, Dec. 2, at Marion Central Park.
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Tuesday, Dec. 3, at Harvey County Courthouse.
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Thursday, Dec. 5, at McPherson County Courthouse.
Following the brief ceremonies, refreshments will be served at host churches.
Flyers have been distributed to area banks, churches and merchants. Included on the flyer is a sign-up form for donations.
For a $15 donation, a loved one’s name will be listed in the bookstand by the trees.
For a $50 donation, the donor will also receive a limited-edition porcelain angel ornament designed by Judy Murphree. The handmade angel is made of fine white clay and tied with a bow.
The project will raise funds for the non-profit hospice.
For more information, call the hospice office at 316-283-8220.
Quilt guild to meet
Dec. 2 in Hillsboro
The Country Stitchers Quilt Guild will meet for its Christmas party at 7:30 p.m., Monday, Dec. 2, at the United Methodist Church in Hillsboro.
Members are asked to bring their service projects, a small gift for the gift exchange and a Christmas goodie for refreshments.
Those members who participated in last year’s “stitch of the month” are asked to bring their completed projects.
Hillsboro UM Church
offers nativity scene
Hillsboro United Methodist Church will offer a live drive-through nativity from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7, and Sunday, Dec. 8, at Hillsboro Memorial Park.
The inspirational nativity presentation is free, and the public is invited.
Area vocalists to sing
in Wichita Dec. 8
Area vocalists will be singing with the Wichita Chamber Chorale’s Sounding Joy program at 4 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 8, at Plymouth Congregational Church, 202 North Clifton, Wichita.
Those participating in the 15th year of the holiday celebration will be sopranos Erica Schmidt of Goessel and Pauline Buller of Hillsboro and bass Glenn Litke, also of Hillsboro.
The program will include traditional Christmas favorites. The group will also perform Conrad Susa’s Carols and Lullabies-a suite of 10 carols depicting Christmas in the Southwest.
General admission is $12, senior-citizen admission is $9, and student admission is $6.
Tickets may be purchased in advance at Senseney Music or from any WCC performing member. Tickets will also be available at the door the day of the performance.
Goessel giving-tree
plans are underway
The Goessel Christmas Giving Tree is being offered this year and is sponsored by the Goessel Ministerial Alliance and the Citizens State Bank.
Families who could use some help with Christmas expenses are encouraged to fill out applications available at the following locations: Goessel, Tabor and Alexanderwohl Mennonite churches; Goessel Elementary School and Goessel High School offices; the Joyful Noise Community Child Care; the Little Bluebird Day Care; the Crossroads Credit Union; and the Citizens State Bank.
The deadline to turn in the applications is Wednesday, Nov. 27.
Tags will not have the children’s name on them and will be on the tree at the Citizens State Bank by Saturday, Nov. 30.
All gifts will need to be brought back to the bank by Saturday, Dec. 21.
The deadline to bring wrapped gifts back to the bank is Saturday, Dec. 21.
Gifts will be delivered by the Goessel Ministerial Alliance.
Teachers donate
books to food banks
The Sunflower Chapter of the Kansas Reading Association has donated children’s books to the food banks of Marion County.
The food banks will hand out the books to families with small children when they receive their Thanksgiving meal.
The Sunflower Chapter is a group of teachers from Hillsboro, Marion, Peabody, Goessel and Hesston.
For more information, call Shari Padgham at 620-382-3771.
Goessel ensemble
to perform in Wichita
Goessel High School’s Elbiata Singers will perform at the Mannheim Steamroller concert Nov. 30 at the Kansas Coliseum in Wichita.
The 22-voice mixed ensemble is led by Greg Bontrager, choral director.
The group will perform Christmas carols 45 minutes before the concert and 20 minutes during intermission.
“We won’t be performing in the concert hall, but it is still a great honor for us to be just a small part of Mannheim’s Wichita concert experience,” Bontrager said.
Farmer’s union plans
to meet Dec. 2
Marion County Farmers Union will hold its annual meeting at 7 p.m., Monday, Dec. 2, at the Tampa Community Building.
Coffee and doughnuts will be served.
The guest speaker will be Vernon Deines, vice president of the Kansas Farmer’s Union.
The program will include election of officers, and delegates will be chosen to attend the KFU State Convention in January in McPherson.
For more information, call Charles Gutsch at 785-983-4397, Jeff Deines at 785-983-4896 or James Srajer at 785-965-2640.
Veterans rep coming
to Marion Dec. 3, 17
Richard Haywood, veteran’s service representative for the Kansas Commission on Veteran’s Affairs, is scheduled to be at the Marion County Health Department from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 3 and 17, at the courthouse in Marion.
Any veteran, dependents or survivors who have received an eligibility-verification report or any inquiry from the Department of Veteran’s Affairs should contact Haywood for assistance.
If possible, those seeking an appointment should call the Emporia office at 620-342-3347 ahead of time so all files will be available.
Wiebe Media Center
to host book fair
The Wiebe Media Center will host a Scholastic Book Fair from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday, Dec. 6 through Wednesday, Dec. 11, at the Hillsboro middle and high school campuses.
Selections include such items as activity and non-fiction books, pre-teen through young-adult novels, cookbooks and posters.
This is an opportunity to buy gifts for Christmas or to build a home library, and proceeds will benefit the students and the school library.
For more information, call Anita Boese at 947-3991.
Prairie View offers
free support group
Prairie View of Newton has begun a free support group for grandparents who have parental responsibility for their grandchildren.
The group meets from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., every first Wednesday of the month, at the Prairie View office, 1901 E. First, Newton.
Meetings are led by Joe Hertzler, a licensed psychologist.
The next meeting will be held Wednesday, Dec. 4.
