Alhambra, Grantfork & New Douglas news for the week of Nov. 30

Village to hold Christmas party

The village of Grantfork’s Christmas Party of village residents will be from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 11 at Village Hall, 205 Rock St. Santa will be on hand to visit with the children.

Leef Township Election Petitions

Petitions for Leef Township Officials for the April 4, 2017 election are now available from Township Clerk Judy Zimmerman. Officials to be elected are Supervisor, Clerk, Road Commissioner and four trustees. Please call Clerk Zimmerman at 618-675-3396to set up a time to pick up a petition.

St. Gertrude Catholic Church

St. Gertrude welcomes newest member Eliana Nichole Wirz, daughter of Andrew and Cheryl (Rinderer) Wirz, on her Baptism on Sunday, Nov. 25. Godparents are Stacy Deuser and Tyson Zobrist.

Grantfork Elementary

Christmas program

The Christmas program for Grantfork Elementary will take place at the school on Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m.

Book Fair

The Book Fair will run from November 28- Dec. 2.

Early dismissal

School will dismiss early at 11:50 a.m. on Dec. 2.

Grantfork UCC

Holiday Schedule

Grantfork United Church of Christ, 206 S. Locust St., has the following holiday schedule:

▪ Sunday school Christmas program, Sunday, Dec. 18 at 9 a.m.

▪ Christmas cantata service, Come Let Us Adore (copyright Brentwood-Benson Music Publications), Sunday, Dec. 18 at 10:15 a.m.

▪ Christmas Eve communion/candlelight service, Saturday, Dec. 24 at 5:30 p.m.

▪ Christmas service of lessons and carols, Sunday, Dec. 25 at 9 a.m.

▪ New Year’s morning communion service, Sunday, Jan. 1 at 10:15 a.m.

Poinsettia orders

The church is now taking poinsettia orders. The deadline for ordering flowers will be Dec. 11. Cost of the flowers are $10. If mailing in an order to the church, include the following information: In memory/honor of and the name of the person ordering the flowers. Flowers may also be placed by calling Mary Lou 654-4382 or Kathy (618) 520-9513.

Meetings

The Women’s Guild meeting will be held at Blue Springs at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1. Churchmen’s Fellowship will meet at the church at 7:30 p.m. The next meeting of the Adam’s and Eve’s will be on Sunday, Dec. 4, following worship. The outdoor Christmas tree lighting will be at 4:30 p.m. the same day.

Mazzio’s Night

The Church Council will host a fundraiser at Mazzio’s Pizza in Highland from 5 to 9 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 5. A portion of the sales will go to the council.

Alhambra Primary

Delta Dental visit

Students were visited by representatives of Delta Dental recently. Besides receiving goodie bags of items for good dental hygiene, students were taught the best way to brush and floss and the importance of taking care of their teeth and gums.

Pro Image Fund Raiser

The Center Schools PTO will participate in a joint fundraiser with the Highland Middle School and Pro Image Sports on Friday, Dec. 2 from 2 to 8 p.m. and on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be many items to chose from: sweatshirts, T-shirts, pants, hats, etc. There will be many top brand professional sport teams and college items.

New Reading Program

As an incentive to get children to read, Raging Rivers will offer “free” tickets again this year. Instead of filling out a reading log, the tickets will be available to any student that received an “A” or its equivalent, (ie: “S” for satisfactory or a number grade).

Madrigal performance

The Highland High School Madrigal Group will perform at Alhambra Primary on Dec. 1 at 9 a.m.

Early dismissal

On Dec. 2, school will dismiss at 11:50 a.m.

Holiday concerts

Alhambra Primary will hold its kindergarten and first-grade concert on Thursday, Dec.15 from 6:30 to 7 p.m. at the school.

The concert for second- and third-grade students will be on Thursday, Dec. 15. It will be held from 7:30 to 8 p.m. and will also be at Alhambra Primary.

Hitz Home to host Christmas Tasting Bee

The Auxiliary of Hitz Home Memorial Home, 201 Belle St. in Alhambra, will host a Christmas Tasting Bee, “Christmas at Mount Vernon with Martha Washington,” starting at 1 p.m. on Dec. 2 in the Hitz Activity and Dining Room.

Join in for an afternoon of fellowship by sharing a delicious meal and Christmas goodies. Entertainment will be by local history teacher Barb Kay, who will be portraying Martha Washington. Cos is a $6. Those attending are also invited to bring their favorite Christmas appetizer, dish or dessert.

Hitz residents will also be holding a bake/craft sale and a quilt drawing.

Petitions available for Township Board

Petitions for open positions on the Alhambra Township board can be obtained by calling Patty Take, township clerk, at (618) 488-7020. Positions up for re-election this year are supervisor, trustee (four), clerk and highway commissioner. Petitions are due back to the township clerk starting on Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. at the Alhambra Township Office,101 E. Main in Alhambra.

Salem UCC

Salem United Church of Christ, 1117 W. North St. in Alhambra, has the following holiday schedule:

On Sunday, Dec. 4 at the 10 a.m. worship, there will be communion and the Highland High School Madrigals will perform.

On Christmas Eve, Saturday, Dec. 24, 7 the Salem Children’s Christmas Program will be at 7 p.m., followed by worship with communion at 9 p.m., and a candlelight service with communion at 11 p.m.

On Christmas Day, Sunday, Dec. 25, there will be worship with communion at 9 a.m.

Petitions for Village Board

Petitions for the April 4, 2017 election are available at the Village Hall, 602 W. Main St. in Alhambra. Petitions are available for mayor, clerk and four trustee positions.

Alhambra Care Center

Residents living at Alhambra Care had a wonderful time on Nov. 18 as they played host to their family members. Good food and fellowship made the event fun and memorable for all.

American Red Cross Blood Drive

Alhambra Township will host a Red Cross blood drive at the Alhambra Township Park on Monday, Dec. 5 from 3 to 7 p.m. Donors are asked to bring a photo ID.

Special Occasions

Anniversaries

Happy anniversary, on Nov. 23, to Chad and Tammy Burton and Brian and Barbara Dugan; November 24, Patrick and Emily Stille; Nov. 27, Lawrence and Judy Henschen, Julian and Cathy Bright and Dave and Jerri Reichmann; Nov. 30, Jerald and Rita Zeller; Dec. 1, John and Merilee Mindrup and Chad and Tara Schuster; Dec. 6, Bob and Joan Henschen.

Birthdays

Happy birthday everyone: Nov. 23, Nelson Linenfelser and Aaron Kelso; Nov. 24,Timothy Nicoson, Nash Suhre, Shirley Olsen, Keith Miller and Joye Brase; Nov. 25, Everett Knackstedt, Marilyn Eyman and Phillip Reiman; Nov.26, John Hanratty and Serena Everett; Nov. 28, David Poeggmoeller; Nov. 29 Nancy Zweck and Bryce Barrett; Nov. 30 Dustin Gall, Joe Balyard, Richelle Ernst and Carol DeClercq; Dec. 1, Verna Abert, Bobby Dauderman, Olivia Adolph and Max Schneider; Dec. 2, Shirley Collmann and Jerry Milam; Dec. 3, Betty Zweck; Dec.4, Anyi Mullen, Nathan Robison and Maci Thorton; Dec. 5, Ethel Hosto, Anna Renken, Alex Schneider, Adam Gillison and Victoria Lynn; Dec. 6, Katie Quade and Kathi Holtgrave.

Fire department will install smoke detectors for free

The New Douglas Fire Department will participate in the American Red Cross Home Fire Campaign. The department will be installing smoke alarms, provided by the American Red Cross, in the fire district for free.

If you haven’t already signed up at any of the local events, call the fire department at (217)456-6221, leave a message and a firefighter will get in contact with you.

The program allows three alarms per home. The alarms are powered with a sealed, 10-year-life lithium-ion battery that cannot, and does not need to be, changed as traditional alarms have been in the past.

This story was originally published November 30, 2016 at 12:10 PM with the headline "Alhambra, Grantfork & New Douglas news for the week of Nov. 30."