Brownstown-Sefton News-Sept. 30, 2010

By Panzi Blackwell

Detour!!! Which Way???
Saturday morning began relatively quietly, well-planned, and organized.
The human inhabitants of the Homestead, namely Bill and Panzi, were to pick up Bill’s sister, Ava Taylor, at her Mulberry Grove home at 10 a.m. and go on to St. Louis to nephew Joey and his bride Kris’s wedding reception.
An incident with Pricey, the Great Pyrnese, and a pesky squirrel occurred just as we were ready to leave (with a little time to spare) caused a ruckus.
It seems the squirrel was provoking Pricey just outside the closed-in porch door and ran down below her line of vision. In trying to get to the squirrel, Pricey removed the paneling and insulation from the lower wall. Bill happened to look through the kitchen door window and saw the damage. (And I think I heard a muffled scream.)
After some stroke-generating excitement, consternation over the time-element, cleanup detail and damage-control, we were on our way to Mulberry Grove, not quite on our original schedule, but still in a timely fashion.  
The reception was to be held in a Webster Grove Park, to which the way was not known to us Illinois country folks.
However, not to worry; we had a Mapquest with detailed directions in our hands. The directions were clearly set down from the proper exit from the bridge, through the streets and right on to the park.
However, when we got on the bridge to St. Louis, road construction was in progress and the exit was shut off, with a sign saying, “Take the next exit,” which we did. But the streets at the next exit were not the streets we were to follow and there seemed to be mass confusion among drivers, including us.
There were other small detour signs, but they didn’t say where to go to get where we were going. After circling the ball stadium twice, we finally hit some streets and eventually got on the trail indicated on the Mapquest directions.
The reception was worth it! The park was very nice, the weather perfect, the bride and groom were happy to see us, the catered food was delicious and plentiful, a beautiful heart-shaped, delicious wedding cake (made by Kris’s sister, Karen) was fantastic, and best of all, we were with family we loved.
We had a good visit with Joey and Kris; brother, Joe and Betty Blackwell of Salem, Mo.; sister, Jane and Earl Pipes of the Ozarks country; and of course, sister, Ava, with whom we enjoyed the trip, going and coming.
We made a quick stop at a White Castle and brought some home with us, always a treat which brings back good memories from my childhood of family trips to the St. Louis Zoo and always a stop at a White Castle.
I have to confess, though, I enjoy the zoo much more now than I did when I was small, as the wild animals are not in cages any more. I always felt so sorry for them behind the bars. Now they are still confined, but in a natural setting with room to be themselves.
Anyway, it was a great day and we even came home with some of Betty’s homemade peanut butter and oatmeal cookies!
In Our Community
Brownstown VFW
Post No.: 9770…
…is holding a Clothes Drive for our veterans. Help support the Brownstown VFW clothing drive for our veterans in the Marion and Jefferson Barracks VA Hospitals. Greatly needed are socks, underwear, T-shirts, sweatshirts, sweat pants and undershirts.
All items must be new (as our veterans deserve). Drop boxes will be located at the Brownstown VFW & Fayette County Real Estate, 740 W. Orchard St., Vandalia.
All clothing items will be given to the Marion and Jefferson Barracks VA Hospitals. Also accepting monetary donations. Checks may be mailed to the Brownstown VFW Post No.: 9770, P.O. Box 27, Brownstown, Ill. 62418.
For more information or assistance with your donation, contact one of the following VFW members: Dan, 322-8945; Jim, 267-5142; or Robyn, 322-8824.
All donations needed by Nov. 13. What a great way to thank a veteran.
October and November are full of opportunities…
… for our community (and surrounding communities). Check’em out and mark your calendars now.
“Life Chain”
Sunday – 2-3:30 p.m. Everyone is encouraged to join in this Stand and Pray for Life. Meet at the corner of Kennedy Boulevard and Gallatin Street in Vandalia.
Red Cross Blood Drive…
…Wednesday, Oct. 6, from 2-7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 9-Golden Years Club’s…
…annual ham and beans dinner at the Golden Years building. More info to follow.
Sunday, Oct. 10 – Brownstown Boy and Cub Scouts…
…will hold a whole-hog barbecue fundraiser at the Brownstown Firehouse to raise funds for a vest for our village policeman and, if enough funds are raised, acomputer for a county deputy’s car. More info to follow.
•Monday, Oct. 12-FCHD Flu Shots Clinic at the Golden Years Club building from 1-3 p.m.
•Saturday, Oct. 23 – Soup Night at the Brownstown Fire         Station, a fundraiser sponsored by the Friends of the Brownstown Branch Library.
Sefton Unit HCE Note
•Sefton HCE Unit is to provide desserts for the scout fundraiser on Oct. 10.
From Our Village Hall
Sherry Meador, local election official for the village of Brownstown, announces that the village hall will be open from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 13-20 (open until 5 p.m. on Dec. 20) to accept candidate petitions or certificates of nomination for the Consolidated Election to be held on April 5, 2011, for the following offices: three village trustees-four-Year terms; and four park commissioners-four-year terms.
Food Pantry Items For October: One 6-ounce can of tuna, one package egg noodles and one box of tuna helper.
This ‘N That
It was a pleasant surprise to see two friends from Vandalia in Effingham recently, Fayette County’s coroner (and a very talented artist) Bruce Bowen and his charming wife, Peggy (who is also Vandalia’s city clerk).
Years ago, Bruce was EMT with the ambulance service, worked in the Fayette County Hospital emergency room and also helped on the floors, when needed, when I worked in ER and OR. He was always knowledgeable and compassionate toward the patients. We enjoyed a brief chat about “the good old days,” and memories of the people we worked with back then.
Coming & Going
Flo and Shirley Have Lunch at Robbi’s Restaurant
Flo Allen and Shirley Klitzing joined Irene Reed, Dorothy Harpster, Joyce Moore and Evelyn Probst for lunch at Robbi’s Restaurant in Vandalia Monday.
Sefton Unit Members Attend Fayette County HCE Board Meeting
The Fayette County Home and Community Education Board met Monday at the U of I Extension Office in Vandalia.
The board president, Flo Allen, called the meeting to order and led the pledge to the American flag. Present were Dorothy Harpster, St. Peter Unit; Anita Smith, Vandalia Day Unit; Irene Reed, St. Elmo Unit; Joyce Moore, Wheatland Unit; Irene Reed, Wright’s Corner Unit; Evelyn Probst, Bingham/Ramsey Unit; and Flo Allen, Shirley Klitzing, Phyllis Pryor, and Panzi Blackwell, all of Sefton Unit. Allen stressed the need for a board secretary.
Dorothy Harpster, treasurer, gave the financial report and furnished a copy to each unit present. The treasurer’s report stood as read. The first and second vice presidents had no reports.
Anita Smith, community outreach director, reported the little girls’ dresses for the club’s project, “Dresses for Africa,” are easy to make from the pattern provided. She made on from a new pillowcase, for which the pattern also gave directions.
Flo Allen displayed three of the “Africa” dresses she had made and also reported them as easy to make.
The board members are to bring made by their units to the October board meeting to be photographed.
Shirley Kitzing reported what might be a more economical way to send the dresses. Patterns were available. It was mentioned that time spent sewing the dresses could be counted as CVU hours.
Allen said the YoPlait Yogurt seals (pink only) program is back in effect until the end of the year. The program is usually in effect from late September/early October until Dec. 31 yearly. She said in the 12 years, the program has been in effect, 25 million seals have been donated. The pink seals are used to promote and aid in cancer research.
Cultural Enrichment Director Shirley Klitzing said plans and the date for the club’s annual fundraiser, “Get Acquainted Day,” are tentatively set, but will be confirmed at a later date.
Irene Reed, family issues director had no report at this time.
International Director Shirley Klitzing reported everything is set for the International Potluck Dinner, featuring Israel, on Oct. 28 at the Phillip’s Building in St. Elmo.
As a reminder, Allen read the list of the Units’ individual responsibilities for the dinner.
Allen reminded board members to bring their unit’s Christmas cards for the military men and women for the next board meeting, as they will need to be sent in October. Your name and address must be included.
A reminder was given not to send musical cards, nor include anything in or on the card, such as glitter, etc. Regular Christmas cards may be used, but none can be in envelopes. Smith said the more cards to be sent the more economical the postage rates.
Public Relations Director Panzi Blackwell reported that the mayor of Vandalia, Ricky Gottman, had signed a proclamation announcing the week of Oct. (11–16) for the Fayette County Home and Community Education.
Anita Smith and Flo Allen were to meet with Gottman at the Vandalia City Hall for the presentation on Wednesday at 4:15 p.m.
Klitzing dispensed tickets for the HCE fundraiser to the units. The drawing will be held Dec. 20 during the board Christmas party for a $100 Wal-Mart gift card.
Allen referred to the CVU sheets (District 6), which must be filled out by each individual and turned in to Flo by December. Phyllis Pryor gave a humorous and warm reading, “I’m going to be a bear.”
Allen gave a reminder about the Bond County HCE Bazaar on Oct. 11, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., at the Bond County HCE food stand at the Fairground in Greenville.
Buy a craft and get a free meal. Call the Extension Office at 664-3655 if you are planning to attend. Children are welcome, and crafts will be available for them, also.
The meeting adjourned at 11 a.m. Shirley Klitzing, Irene Reed, Dorothy Harpster, Joyce Moore, Evelyn Probst and Flo Allen were to attend the meeting for the lesson in the afternoon at the Extension Office.
Brownstown United
Methodist Church
Bill Stolte greeted the congregation of the Brownstown United Methodist Church as they gathered for Sunday morning worship service. Pianist Bette Stolte played the prelude. Bradley Schwarms served as acolyte.
Jim Green, guest speaker in the absence of Pastor Bigley, reviewed announcements and prayer concerns and needs. Anniversary blessings were sung for Jeff and Renna Kelly.
Prayer was offered by Green for the prayer requests, along with blessings for the book bags and sewing kits for Haiti. The items are to be taken to the Conference United Methodist Women’s meeting.
Jenna Townsend served as liturgist Jeffrey Kelly, and Bradley Schwarms presented the tithes and offerings. Green read scripture, delivered the sermon and closed the service with the benediction.
Jenna Townsend led the children’s 9 a.m. fellowship and worship. Flo Allen and Louella Christensen led the adult classes.
Announcements
•Thursday 10 a.m. Bible study at the Brownstown Church led by Jim Green.
•Saturday, Oct. 2-UMW Conference Annual Meeting at Fairview Heights Christ UMW. Bishop and Mrs. Gregory Palmer will attend, and Cynthia Palmer will be the keynote speaker.
•Oct. 3 – World Wide Communion Sunday. This will be the last day for the Lighthouse Pregnancy Center Baby Bottle Campaign Raiser.
•Oct. 4 – 6-6:30 p.m.: Bishop Palmer invites local church leaders to join him in devotions, conversations and fellowship at the Neoga Grace UMC. A question and answer period will follow. The purpose is to promote growth in local churches.
•Oct. 7 – First Thursday prayer and fasting, with the focus on ministry, pastor appreciation month and laity Sunday.
First Christian Church
The congregation of First Christian Church was greeted by Rita Miller and led by Cathy Smith and Steve Storm singing songs of praise.
Instrumentalists were Susan Smith-pianist; Chuck Enlow and Walt Kinney-guitarists; Gretchen Schaible-string bass; and Kaitlyn Enlow-flute.
Special music was contributed by Adrienne Smith, followed by the message, delivered by John Robinson.
Chuck Enlow led the Communion meditation and prayer. Toby Tackett led the offering meditation.
Also serving: Sunday school nursery-Tena Gould; a.m. nursery-Marcia Pemberton; toddler worship-Shannon Claycolmb and Abby Enlow; Quest-4-Christ-Michael Watson and Quest-4-Christ team; and Communion to shut-ins-Brent Keyes and John Robinson.
Announcements
•BFCC Leadership (Elders/Deacons) Potluck Meal meeting is this Sunday at 11:45 a.m. This soup and hoagie (sandwiches) meal is for carry-in meal for the elders, deacons, ministers and their families.
The leadership meeting will follow the meal and the cleanup in the lookout classroom.
•Youth-led fall festival is Sunday, Oct. 24, at 4:30 p.m. in the church parking lot.
Liberty Christian Church
The congregation of Liberty Christian Church was greeted by Jack and Dorothy Durbin, and welcomed by Jim Dann.
Teresa Mayes, Erin Schaub and Paula Brunk led in songs of praise, accompanied by Eddie Carson on drums, Connie Largent as pianist and Tammy Carson at the keyboard.  Sound was by Tom Mayes and Power Point by Dana Dann.
Vernon Brazle shared the praises and prayer requests, and led in prayer. Jenny Gomez contributed special music, followed by the message delivered by Antonio Gomez.
Brazel led the Communion meditation and prayer. Brad Smith led the offering prayer. Dann shared the announcements.
Also serving: serving at the table: Vernon Brazle, Delmar Miller; serving the congregation: Duane Carson, Jack Durbin, Charlie Moore, Josh Robison, Brad Smith, Dick Childress; assistants: Luke Robison, Tony Beardon; ushers: Junior Carson, Duane Carson; nursery: Kathy Willms, Rylee Wollerman; Communion preparation: Elvera Robison; Communion rounds: Bill Robison, Charlie Moore; and youth refreshments: Elvera Robison.  
Praises
•Steve Bein – home from Iraq.
•Erin Klug and Rich Weese – called to part-time positions as children and youth ministers.
Announcements
•’50s and ‘60s Fellowship – Potluck planned for Wednesday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m., in the fellowship hall.
•SuperStart! Live Oct. 8-9 at St. Louis-Erin Klug.