HCF still accepting grant applications

Hillsboro Community Foundation is still accepting grant applications for the Hillsboro Area Impact Fund.

The fund will be used for charitable purposes as determined by the foundation.

Grant application will run from Sept. 15 through Nov. 14. Grants will be awarded in January.

Applications can be downloaded from the city Web site, www.cityofhillsboro.net, or from the Free Press Web site, www.hillsborofreepress.com.

Applications also are available from Jayson Hanschu at American Family Insurance, 104 E. First, Suite A, Hillsboro.

For more information, contact Hanschu at 620-947-5686.

Canton Senior Center plans fish fry Oct. 16

Canton Senior Center, 112 S. Main St., Canton, is hosting a fish fry from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16. The menu includes fish, scalloped potatoes, corn, coleslaw, pie, cake and coffee. The event is free-will donation and open to everyone.

Speaker to discuss Kansas? cemeteries

Randall Thies will present a program with slides on ?Ceme?teries Galore: Continuity and Change in Kansas Graveyards, ? at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 21, at the Marion City Library, 101 Library St.

Most Kansas cemeteries have the same basic characteristics, there are many unique differences in the form of regimented church cemeteries, prison and poor-farm cemeteries and cemeteries created for various ethnic groups, children and pets.

Everyone is welcome to attend this Kansas Humanities Program to discover the many surprising and little known ways Kansans have chosen to care for their dead.

Thies recently retired as cultural resources specialist and archeologist with the Kansas State Historical Society in Topeka. As an archeologist, he has worked in all parts of Kansas, specializing mainly on prehistoric sites and burials.

Thies also has a strong personal and professional interest in cemeteries, monuments and public speaking.

For questions, call the library at (620) 382-2442.

Marion resident plans book signing

Elaine Ewert of Marion has written and illustrated a children?s book titled ?Estelle Wants To Fly.? Elaine and Estelle (the main character in the book, which is also her family dog) will visit the Marion City Library, 101 Library St. at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25 with a special book reading and signing.

Children and adults are welcome to attend. For information, call the Marion City Library, (620) 382-2442.

Call made for new community theater

Hillsboro-area actors, musicians and dancers are asked to show their interest in participating in a musical production in summer 2009.

Performers of all ages?as well as behind-the-scenes workers such as lighting technicians, set builders and backstage managers?would have the opportunity to be a part of a brand new Hillsboro Community Music Theatre program.

This program would be for all community members. Those interested need not be professionals or a regular performer to be involved.

The community theater program would work for around a month to organize a professional-quality production, and would then perform the show several nights in a row. Show selection and rehearsal and performance dates will be announced after it is determined there is enough interest in participation.

Anyone interested in participating, or would like more information, may e-mail David Vogel at davidbvogel@tabor.edu.

Goessel library hosts book celebration

In celebration of receiving the Books For Children grant from The Libri Foundation, the Goessel Public Library hosted a ?Welcome to Our Library? party for the new books.

Books for story-time were selected from the grant books and each child had the opportunity to check out a brand new book. The books are processed and ready for check out.

The book plates inside the books show that the books were donated by The Libri Founda?tion and ?A Friend of Libraries,? Elaine Schroeder, who made a donation for books.

Schroeder, a long-time volunteer, donated $350, which the Foundation matched at a 2-to-1 ratio. This means that the library received $1,061.54 worth of easy, junior and young adult books.

The 63 books received were selected from a list provided by the Foundation. The list included award winning books, fiction and non-fiction, for children pre-school through young adult.

The Libri Foundation is based in Eugene, Ore. Its primary purpose is to donate quality children?s books to rural public libraries.

?The foundation enables rural libraries like Goessel Public Library to obtain children?s books that could not otherwise be acquired due to budgetary constraints,? said Laura Dailey, library director.

Student fall concert will be at MB church

The Hillsboro High School Vocal Department will present its fall concert Thursday, Oct. 23.

The concert will be at the Hills?boro Mennonite Brethren Church because the high school stage is being used for the fall musical.

The middle school seventh- and eighth-grade choirs perform at 6:30 p.m. in the church sanctuary. The high school Mixed Chorus, Spirit-N-Celebration, and Concert Choir will perform at 7:30 p.m.

The public in invited to attend.

Special education board meets Oct. 20

The Marion County Special Education Board of Directors will hold its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Monday Oct. 20 in the Marion County Special Education Cooperative conference room, 302 W. Eighth, Florence.

Knepp to speak at potluck supper

The Agape Senior Center in Goessel will have its monthly potluck supper starting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16.

At 7 p.m. guest speaker Maynard Knepp of rural Goessel will speak about Mennonite churches currently in the Ukraine, and about Mennonite Central Committee, the worldwide relief and development organization.

An offering will be collected.

MHS music groups in concert Oct. 23

The Marion High School Music Department presents the jazz band, Marion Singers, and the concert choir in concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, in the new Performing Arts Center.

Directing the jazz band is Adam Johnson and directing the vocal music students is David Clark with Karla Teganov accompanying.

Library to host movie Saturday

Marion City Library is hosting movie night at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18 when everyone?s favorite archeologist adventurer dusts off his hat and trusty whip for another globetrotting trek as Harrison Ford returns to the screen nearly 20 years after racing for the Holy Grail.

In this sequel, Ford is called back into action when he becomes entangled in a Soviet plot to uncover the secret behind mysterious artifacts known as the Crystal Skulls.

The movie runs 122 minutes and is rated PG 13. Library officials ask people bring their own chairs, blankets and refreshments. Children under 10 must be accompanied by a parent.

The movie will be cancelled if inclement weather. For movie title or questions, call the library, 383-2442.

Kiwanis Club plans program Oct. 21

Sandra Fruit from the Greater Newton Community Foundation will present the program at Hillsboro Kiwanis Club Tuesday, Oct. 21. The meeting will be at Hillsboro City Hall, 118 E. Grand Ave.

Vogt?s Hometown Market will provide a $7 lunch prior to the meeting. Non-members may attend by calling Kirby Rector at 947-5437.

Dementia support group to meet Oct. 21

The Marion County Support Group for Caregivers of Demen?tia Patients will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21, in Salem Home.

Facilitators for the evening are Esther Pankratz and Sharon Ressler. The support group is for family members and caregivers of dementia patients.

For more information contact Hillsboro Community Hospital, 620-947-3114.

Maxwell trail ride set for Oct. 20, 21

Maxwell Wildlife Refuge, located north of Canton, will host a Santa Fe Trail ride Oct. 20 and 21.

Cost is $50 per person for the 18-mile ride. The fee includes a guided ride, lunch on the trail, campfire supper, overnight camp out, Sunday breakfast and a tour of the Smoky Hill prairie.Participants should bring their own horses.

For a registration from, call 620-628-4455, mornings only.

Auxiliary members to meet Oct. 21

The Hillsboro American Legion Auxiliary will hold its monthly meeting at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 21, at Post 366, 405 Floral Drive.

All area auxiliary members are invited to attend.

Parents as Teachers offer help in area

Marion County Parents As Teachers is a free program, sponsored by state and Marion County school district money, according to Lori Soo Hoo, coordinator and parent educator in Hillsboro.

The program is open to all parents and children (birth to age 3). For questions, call (620) 947-4041.