St. Elmo News

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Thursday, March 8
• A telenet lesson, “Going Green,” will be given at the Fayette County Extension Office, Vandalia, at 10 a.m. This is for Home and Community Education Units, and the public is welcome to attend.
• The Lunch Bunch will meet at noon at Mary Ann’s Restaurant.
• The St. Elmo Library District Board will not meet until Tuesday, March 13.
• The Fayette County livestock meeting, 7 p.m., Vandalia Extension Office.
• The Fayette County award training, 7 p.m., Vandalia Extension Office.
• Effingham Chapter #110, Order of the Eastern Star, 7:30 p.m., Effingham Masonic Temple.
Friday, March 9
• Home and Community Education units can pick up the newsletters for April, May, June at the Vandalia Extension Office. The office is open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 10
• Polio Survivors and Friends of East Central Illinois will have the first 2012 meeting at 1 p.m. at the Sarah Bush Lincoln Education Center, Mattoon. Those who wish can eat lunch together at 11:30 a.m. at the Airport Restaurant.
Sunday, March 11
• Daylight Saving Time starts at 2 a.m. – you will need to set you clocks ahead one hour.
• The Wolf Creek Cluster of United Methodist Churches Lenten service, 4 p.m., Brownstown First United Methodist Church. The speaker will be the church minister, Don Thomas, who will give a short sermon, because there will be music by Laurel Jean, who has been blind since birth. She is a creative pianist, gifted vocalist, versatile songwriter/composer and inspirational speaker. The offering will go to Jean and the Fayette County Food Pantry. After the service, there will be refreshments.
Monday, March 12
• The St. Elmo Lions Club, 6 p.m., Mary Ann’s Restaurant.
• ”Meetings that Matter” is 4-H for grown-ups and is open to adult leaders and parents, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Vandalia Extension Office.
Tuesday, March 13
• The Avena Township Park Board, 6:30 p.m., St. Elmo Community Park Centennial Building.
• The St. Elmo Library District Board, 7 p.m., St. Elmo Public Library.
• American Legion Post #420. 7 p.m., American Legion Home.
• The Fayette County Board, 7 p.m., Fayette County Courthouse, Vandalia.
Thursday, March 15
• Vit-Em-In Sunday School Class potluck, noon, First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall.
• A telenet lesson, “To Soy or Not to Soy,” will be given at 1:30 p.m. at the Vandalia Extension Office. This is for Home and Community Education units, and the public is welcome to attend.
• The Friendship Quilt Club, 7 p.m., St. Elmo Public Library.
Future Announcement
The defensive driving course sponsored by the St. Elmo Lions Club will be held on Tuesday, March 27, and Wednesday, March 28, at the St. Elmo Christian Church. The class will be held from 8 a.m.-noon each day. For class availability and signup, call Mona Stanley at 829-5437.
County HCE Board
A letter from Representative John Shimkus of the 19th District was read at the meeting of the Fayette County Board of Home and Community Education held the morning of February 27 in the Fayette County Extension Office, Vandalia.
It had been sent to Cultural Enrichment Chairman, Debbie Swain and said, “I would like to thank you for contributing to my Valentines for Heroes program. For the fifth straight year, I have been humbled by the response from the generous and patriotic people of our region. We estimate more that 6,000 valentines were collected by my offices from school children, church groups, families, and individuals.
“The valentines have been distributed to active duty personnel at Scott Air Force Base, as well as those recovering from injuries and illnesses at the new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Veterans facilities receiving valentines included the Marion VA Medical Center, Illiana VA Medical Center in Danville, St. Louis VA Medical Center John Cochran Division and Jefferson Barracks Division, Mt. Vernon VA Clinic, Springfield VA Clinic, Effingham VA Clinic, Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy and Illinois Veterans Home in Anna.
“If there is ever anything my office or I can do for you, please do not hesitate to let us know. Sincerely, John Shimkus, Member of Congress.”
President Flo Allen opened the meeting, with all giving the pledge of allegiance. In addition to Allen of the Sefton Unit, others present were Panzi Blackwell, Shirley Klitzing, Phyllis Pryor and Debbie Swain of the Sefton Unit; Dorothy Harpster of the St. Peter Unit; Irene Reed and Mary Smith of the Wright’s Corner Unit; Anita Smith of the Vandalia Day Unit; Anna Jean Rhodes of the St. Elmo Unit; and Evelyn Probst of the Bingham/Ramsey Unit.
The quarterly newsletter for April, May and June has not been printed because the secretary was on vacation. Starting on Friday, units can pick them up at the Vandalia Extension Office. The office is open from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Wednesday through Friday.
The up-to-date total membership in Fayette County is 118
Anita Smith reported that the Vandalia Day Unit is making wash cloth bears for the Sweetbriar residents.
Evelyn Probst showed two lap quilts made by Janet Stout of the Bingham/Ramsey Unit for veterans.
The date for the annual meeting was set for Tuesday, June 19, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Vandalia. Registration will be at 11 a.m., with a potluck at noon.
After the Monday, April 23 Board meeting the Past and Present Officers semi-annual gathering will be at 11:15 a.m. at the Vandalia Los Amigos.
The Get-Acquainted Day will be held at the Brownstown Golden Years building on Thursday, April 12. Registration will be 9 a.m. and the potluck brunch is at 9:30 a.m. Wheatland will do the registration, Bingham/Ramsey and Wright’s Corner will do the beverages and arrange food on the tables, Sefton is in charge of a skit and the auction, St. Elmo is in charge of the door prizes and St. Peter and Vandalia Day will do the cleanup.
Each unit is to take a $5 door prize, and each member is to take something for the “Make It, Bake It, Sew It, Grow It” auction; those unable to take something are asked to make a $5 donation. The auction is the biggest fundraiser for the HCE county budget.
Those present at the board meeting enjoyed éclairs furnished by Blackwell, who had green plates and green napkins decorated with a pot-o-gold. Each one also received a sheet with a St. Patrick’s cartoon saying “Faith & Begorra! Top of the morning to the F.C.H.C.E. ’colleens.’”
After the meeting, all except Blackwell, Reed and Mary Smith went to Los Amigos for lunch.
Lions Club
Guests present at the St. Elmo Lions Club meeting held the evening of Feb. 25 at Mary Ann’s Restaurant were District 1L Governor Jim Strange and Zone 41 Chairman Bob Wiedenhoeft.
After the meeting was opened by Vice President Dave Maxey, who led in the pledge of allegiance, Kent Denton gave the meal blessing.
Following the meal, Strange gave a briefing on the current affairs of the Lions Club from the Local, National and International perspective.
Plans were completed for the annual pancake and sausage breakfast that was held from 7 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Phillips Building on Saturday. The 50/50 raffle proceeds will go to the scholarship fund.
The annual defensive driving course hosted by the St. Elmo Lions Club is set for Tuesday, March 27, and Wednesday, March 28, from 8 a.m.-noon each day at the St. Elmo Christian Church. It will be given by Dave Maxey.
The annual diabetes awareness will take place on Saturday, May 12, at various St. Elmo locations.
In addition to Maxey and Denton, club members present were Don Crawford, John Crawford, Lewis Crawford, Roger Fulk, Mark Lash, Richard Lowe, Dee Newberry, Lloyd Stanley and Randy Wolf.
Royal Neighbors
Noah and Ruby Taylor of the Singing Strings were guests at the Royal Neighbors of America #5784 meeting held the afternoon of Feb. 29 in the Phillips Building. The Singing Strings provided music for the RNA catered Christmas dinner on Dec. 3 in the First Church of God S.H.E.D., and Irene Reed presented them with a check.
During the business meeting, presided over by Della Stewart, it was reported what RNA members had done for the month. Also included was a matching fund for Brentt Stoldt.
To observe St. Patrick’s Day and enjoy good fellowship, a corned beef and cabbage dinner is being planned for noon on Saturday, March 17, at the Phillips Building. Those attending are to take a potluck dish, but need to make a reservation by March 15, so that enough corned beef and cabbage can be prepared. To make a reservation, call Reed at 829-5156 or Stewart at 829-3394.
A regular monthly meeting will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 28, at the Phillips Building. The activity will be to make Easter bags for Friendship Manor Nursing Home.
Others present at the February meeting were Ina Abendroth, Marjorie Sarver and Leona Wright.
Fayette County Museum Exhibits
The special exhibits feature for March in the Fayette County Museum is “Architecture: Past and Present.” The display cases are in the lower level of the museum.
The sanctuary of the Old Presbyterian Church, home of the Fayette County Museum at 301 W. Main St. in Vandalia, is being resurrected. To celebrate this resurrection, the bell is being rung at noon on Fridays.
A new roof was put on the building in 2009, and the next spring, the historic oilcloth ceiling was uncovered. Plans were to continue restoration and to provide energy efficient improvements. This will be done in four phases.
Phase I is in progress. The damaged portion of the ceiling has been restored. New lighting and ceiling insulation are scheduled. Phase II will be to restore and insulate the walls. Phase III will be an elevator. Phase IV will be to restore the floor. The restoration phases will double the usable space in the building.
In February, 191 guests registered in the visitor book. Groups touring the museum were:  Girl Scout Troop 8858, Vandalia; a group from Cornerstone Academy in Nokomis; and Mrs. Hobbie’s seventh-grade class from Vandalia. Many visited the museum on Lincoln’s Birthday to see the special displays honoring him.
Wheatland HCE
Joan Aderman was hostess to the Wheatland Unit of Home and Community Education at the Phillips Building the afternoon of March 1.
Aderman gave the special feature, “See the Future – Your Vision as You Age,” and Karen Hyde gave the major lesson, “The Cost of Managing Your Money.”
Refreshments of banana dessert, nuts and mix, coffee and tea were served. Others present were Erna Koontz, MaryEllen Lovett, Marilyn Sproat and Ethelyn Williams.
St. Elmo Women’s Civic Club
“Miss Daisy” was a humorous program given by Michelle Weaver of Vandalia at the March 1 meeting of the St. Elmo Women’s Civic Club held at the St. Elmo Public Library.
“Miss Daisy” was dressed in a funny “padded” garb and talked as a Southerner, and those present laughed throughout her program. She has a good voice and sang a couple of songs, including “My Favorite Things,” which had very different words for favorite things. Weaver, wife of Vandalia First Baptist Church minister, has been giving this program for six years.
Guests present were Sharon Jorandby of Brownstown, Gerry Burton of Mason, Rosalyn Stine of Loogootee and Joyce Drees of St. Elmo.
The meeting was opened with the club collect and all giving the pledge of allegiance. President Pat Porter passed around a thank-you note for the club’s membership donation to the Fayette County Museum.
On the nominating committee are Libby Kessel and Ann Rowland. Officers will be elected for the 2012-13 year at the April meeting
Refreshments of strawberry cake, angel food cake, mini cupcakes, nuts, candies, sodas, tea and punch were served by hostesses Debbie Hough and Lucille Koeberlein from a St. Valentine’s decorated table. The other hostess, Shannon Engeljohn, was unable to be present, but made the mini-cupcakes.
In addition to those mentioned, the 12 club members present included Susan Belden, Karen Denning, Norma Engeljohn, Sheila Himes, Mary Myers, Anna Jean Rhodes and Peggy Stolte.
The April meeting of the club will be on the second Thursday, March 12, and will be a salad supper at 6 p.m. in the St. Mary’s Catholic Church Parish Hall. This will be a membership drive, and club members attending are to take friends. The program will be Pampered Chef, given by Lynn Wolf.