St. Elmo News

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Thursday, November 13
• Lunch Bunch, noon, Mary Ann’s Restaurant.
• The St. Elmo Public Library District Board, 7 p.m., St. Elmo Public Library.
• The Effingham Chapter #110 Order of the Eastern Star, 7:30 p.m., Effingham Masonic Temple.
Saturday, November 15
• Saturday is deadline for vendor signups for the first Central Illinois Wedding Show, scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 4, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., at two locations: Carriage House Event Center at Altamont, owned and operated by Janet Ramsey, and Summer Breeze Wine House and Barn Venue in St. James, owned and operated by Tammy Lash.
They have to have all the vendors signed up in order to get the show together before the holidays.
Local vendors that specialize in the true needs of the brides are reminded that the deadline to sign up is today.
• The annual chili cook-off at First Baptist Church. The church says, “If you make great chili or you like to eat great chili, you are invited to participate in the annual chili cook-off.”
Those wanting to enter the cook-off are to take their entry in a crock pot to the church by 5 p.m.
The entry will be sampled by a panel of judges, and trophies will be presented to the top three.
At 5:30 p.m., everyone else will be welcomed to taste the talents of the chili participators.
Monday, November 17
• Historical Vandalia Inc., 6:30 p.m., Fayette County Museum, Vandalia.
• St. Elmo Board of Education, 7:30 p.m., unit office.
Tuesday, November 18
• Gluten Free Fads and Facts,” a class through the Vandalia Kaskaskia College Campus, will be presented from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Vandalia Extension Office.
There is no cost for this course. Students are to preregister for the class and can do so by calling the Vandalia Campus at 283-1780 or the Office of Continuing Education at Kaskaskia College at 545-3255.
Wednesday, November 19
• Royal Neighbors of America November meeting will be held at 1 p.m. at the Phillips Building.
• St. Elmo HCE usually meets on the fourth Thursdays, but because of Thanksgiving, the November meeting will be held today at 1:30 p.m. in the St. Elmo Public Library.
Thursday, November 20
• The Vit-Em-In Sunday school class of the First United Methodist Church is having a Thanksgiving turkey potluck for the entire church at 6 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
Turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, beverages and table service will be provided by the class.
Those attending are to take a side dish: a salad, vegetable or dessert.
• Exxon Mobil Annuitants, noon, Vandalia Ponderosa.
Second Season of Events
• On Sunday, Nov. 23, the Historical Vandalia, Inc. second Sixth Season of Events, “Stan’s What’s It’s,” will be given at 1:30 p.m. in the Vandalia First United Methodist Church Wesley Hall. Stan Severs of Argenta will give an entertaining and educational program of very unusual antique tools that were used in the home and outside of the home.
Because it is a little longer program, it will start at 1:30 p.m. Tickets bought at the door are $15 for adults; if bought ahead of time at the museum or from a board member, they are $13. Tickets for children 7-18 are half price.
Friendly Neighbors
Friendly Neighbors provided turkey and dressing for the Thanksgiving potluck held at noon on Nov. 5 at the Phillips Building. Irene Reed baked the turkey and Mary Smith did the dressing.
The potluck food included mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, cranberry and apple salads, green bean salad corn casserole and pumpkin pie made with fresh pumpkin.
Rosemary Owen decorated the tables in a Thanksgiving theme; she used gourds, pumpkins, leaves and a decorative turkey.
President R.W. Smith had all repeat the Pledge of Allegiance and gave the meal blessing.
Others present from St. Elmo were Bob and Joanne Owen, and Margie Sarver. Also present were Cora Miley of Beecher City, Marybelle Ledbetter of Brownstown, and Shirley Smith of Altamont and her granddaughter Allison and great-granddaughter Amelia of Brownstown.
Ham will be furnished for the Tuesday, Dec. 2, noon potluck at the Phillips Building.
Council of Catholic Women
“What thanks will you give for this Thanksgiving?” was the Council of Catholic Women roll call at the Nov. 5 meeting in St. Mary’s Catholic Church Parish Hall. It was answered by Helen Bergman, Mona Durbin, LaVonne Kramer, Mary Myers, Pat Porter and Carol Rine. The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer.
Announcements were the following: the Ladies Christmas dinner will be at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 2. at Mary Ann’s Restaurant; a Red Cross blood drive will be held in the parish hall on Monday, Dec. 15, from 1-6 p.m.; church decorations will start on Dec. 16; St. Mary’s catered Christmas dinner will be on Saturday, Jan. 3, following the 5:30 p.m. Mass; and March for Life will be Jan. 21-23 in Washington, D.C.
Hostesses Bergman and Durbin served pumpkin bars, party mix, coffee and tea.
Wright’s Corner HCE
Wright’s Corner Unit of Home and Community Education met the afternoon of Nov. 5 at the Loudon Town House, with the following present: Chairman Carol Austin, Ina Abendroth, Janice Garrison, Kate Jennings, Rosemary Owen, Irene Reed, Mary Smith, Shirley Smith and Helen Wright.
After the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call was answered with “Have you ever been on a train?” and all but one said yes.  The October HCE Board Notes were read. The 2015 program books were filled out.
Garrison had the minor lesson, “Much Ado About the Holidays,” and she served one of the recipes, a chocolate rolled cake. She also served egg nog, coffee and a fruit beverage.
Smith invited them to her home Dec. 3 for the unit’s Christmas party.
Wheatland HCE
Wheatland Unit of Home and Community Education met the afternoon of Dec. 6 at Mary Ann’s Restaurant. Roll call “Have You Even Been on a Train?” was answered by Karen Hyde, Erna Koontz, Sandra Lovett, Fern Moore and Ethelyn Williams.
Hyde gave the special feature. “Much Ado About the Holidays.” The new 2015 program books were filled out.
Hostess Koontz had turtle pie and beverages served for refreshments.
St. Elmo Women’s Civic Club
After opening with the club collect and the Pledge of Allegiance at the St. Elmo Women’s Civic Club meeting held the evening of Nov. 6 at the St. Elmo Public Library,
Dave Maxey gave a program on the senior citizen driving course he has given several times a year.
Since 2002, he has volunteered to be the instructor for the eight-hour course. The AARP course is for age 55-plus.
It will be given in St. Elmo again in the spring of 2015. Taking the course saves on car insurance and a person should take the course every three years to continue the insurance saving.
Maxey retired as a master sergeant after serving 32 years with Illinois State Police. Prior to the AARP course, Maxey instructed with the court system through Northwestern University and Lake Land College.
After the program, President Pat Porter conducted the business meeting.
Volunteering to help decorate two Christmas trees at Aperion Care on Wednesday, Dec. 3, were Mary Myers and Carolyn White.
For Christmas on Main Street, which will be held Sunday evening Dec. 7, White will use her golf cart for the parade and it will be decorated.
Those present turned in their orders of nuts, candies and cakes to the chairman, Anna Jean Rhodes; the items soon will be ordered so they will be received before Thanksgiving.
Hostesses Mary Jane Mattix and Liz Stoner (who was unable to be present) served pumpkin pie, whipped cream, a tray of several fresh fruits with a dipping sauce, crackers, cheese and lemonade.
Others present in addition to Porter, Myers, White, Rhodes and Mattix were Susan Belden, Karen Denning, Sheila Himes, Debbie Hough, Libby Kessel and Lucille Koeberlein.
The Thursday, Dec. 4, Christmas dinner will be held at 5:30 p.m. at Mary Ann’s Restaurant.
Those attending are to take canned food items for Caring and Sharing.