9 minute read
Betty’s Column
LOCAL HISTORY Christmas festivities are coming via Zoom this year
Christmas is just around the corner and usually Krista, our daughter in Wisconsin, would be baking the Christmas cookies. They always were a work of art placed on her tiered cookie holder.
I would make the eggnog and the slush punch from Carol Hammer’s recipe. Others came with candy and assorted snacks.
We all gathered on the day after Christmas, sang and played MCAHNY which is like a Christmas bingo. Then we would have pizza and take pictures.
It was always a big day with all the family together. Last year with four new babies it was a bit different.
This year it really will be different. We will do the whole thing by zoom!
No Christmas cookies, eggnog or slush punch and the family will be gathering each at their own homes. We will gather by zoom and even play MCAHNY which stands for Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Our cards have been sent over the Internet so we are ready. We even will attempt to sing.
We are not the only family facing a different kind of Christmas gathering. What unique ways are you planning in your family?
With the vaccine practically at our doorstep we do not want to do something silly. So we are enjoying a few family members at a time.
Steve came this week for a couple of days and
COMMENTARY Betty Obendorf Polo Historical Society
we drove around to see the Christmas decorations in Polo and Dixon. Always great to see the family members anytime.
We are also enjoying the decorations in the neighborhood It is nice to see the candles in every window in the McGrath House shining through the trees. We have wonderful memories of parties there at Christmas with Jim and Gina Cole.
Recently I went on the Internet and found another º with the original box and certificate that had come all the way from Germany around 35 years ago. It had a nice account of the history of Hintz Mueller-Blech. This ornament had ended up on a farm in the state of Ohio.
Wendy collects all sorts of vintage things she can sell on the Internet. She uses the money to help take care of animals she has saved. She finds them along the road and other places where people have dumped them.
She brings them back to health and then she will find a new home for these abandoned animals. I enjoyed reading all about her on her
Here is just a small sampling of Inge-Glas ornaments made in Germany.
website.
One never knows where vintage items will come from or who has saved them through the years. I also have a nutcracker coming from somewhere and should arrive any day.
I am focusing on something new to put on my tree rather than think about what we will not have this Christmas.
HOLIDAY EVENT
If you can’t bring the people to church for a Christmas tradition, you can at least bring them to the parking lot to sing.
That’s exacly what the Pine Creek Christian Church did on Sunday when the church on West Penn Corner Road hosted “Parking Lot Caroling”.
Families and friends showed up for the afternoon event to sing along from the comfort of their own vehicles. 3D Sound provided the technology to transfer music to each visitor’s vehicle radio. Twenty-seven vehicles took part in the 2 p.m. event.
Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@shawmedia.com AT LEFT: Lyle Hopkins hands a bag of Christmas cookies and a program to a driver
during the “Parking Lot Caroling” event Sunday afternoon at Pine Creek Christian
Church. ABOVE: Carolers follow along during the playing of “Joy to the World”. A total
of 27 vehicles full of carolers attended the socially distant event which was designed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Holiday Hours
New Years Hours: Bertolet Memorial Library will close at 4 p.m. on Dec. 31 and remain closed through Jan. 3. We will reopen on Monday, Jan. 4.
Hat and Mitten Tree
This is your last week to bring in your donations of hats, scarves, gloves, and mittens on our tree. They will be distributed through the New Life Community Center in Forreston in January.
MT. MORRIS LIBRARY
Toilet Paper Wreath Contest
Flush Away 2020. Toilet Paper Tube Wreath Contest. How to enter: create a wreath out of toilet paper tubes. It can be festive or funny, large or small, you dawn.mtmorrislib@gmail.com with your name and phone number. Your family may enter multiple wreaths. Deadline: Dec. 30. Prize: Four pack of toilet paper, of course!
Free Library Cards for all OCUSD 220 Students
Mt. Morris Public Library and Oregon Public Library, in conjunction with
Winter Take & Make Crafts
Miss Jana will have craft kits to keep you and your kids busy. Stop by each Monday to pick up your take & make craft kit for the week!
We have a variety of skill level projects including gingerbread houses and gnome ornaments. Stop in today!
New Releases
Adult Fiction: The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict; Moonflower program where all students qualify for a free library card. Information and forms will be sent home from the school. Contact the library at 815-734-4927 for more information.
Family Storytime
In-person family storytime is available on Fridays by appointment and for one mately 30 minutes and will include books, rhymes and a craft. Masks will be required for ages 3 and up and you will be asked to use hand sanitizer upon entry to the library. Call the library at 815-734-4927 or email dawn.mtmorrislib@gmail.com to register. Murders by Anthony Horowitz; NYPD Red 6 by James Patterson
Juvenile Fiction: Scarlet and Ivy by Sophie Cleverly; Waste of Space by Stuart Gibbs
Wednesday WhoDunIt
Wednesday WhoDunIt will resume after the holidays. Put a new mystery title on your Christmas wish list!
Family Story Time
Browsing & Computer Use By Appt.
We are open for browsing and computer use by appointment; call they required and you will be asked to use hand sanitizer upon entering the library. No unaccompanied children are allowed in the library at this time (do not bring your children if you will be using the computer). Browsing is limited to 30 minutes and computer use to one hour.
Curbside Pickup, Interlibrary Loans
Curbside Service and Interlibrary Loans are available during regular busi-
Reminder: We are unable to collect soft plastics at this time. Also, we regretfully cannot accept book donations right now. We apologize for the inconvenience. We ask that you refrain from depositing your plastics and book donations unattended.
decide. Send a photo of your creation to
OCUSD 220, are partnering for a pilot
family at a time. It will last approxi-
Celebrate Christmas 2020 with your local United Methodist Churches! Whether you plan to celebrate Christmas online, in-person, on the radio, on Youtube, or Facebook the 10 Hub Cluster United Methodist Churches welcome you and your family to join us for Christmas Services. Check out www.UMCHub.org/Christmas or the listed webpage or Facebook page listed for the most up to date info for service or streaming options. See all the HUB churches Christmas Schedules at www.UMCHub.org/Christmas Ashton United Methodist Church Chana United Methodist Church Facebook search Ashton UMC, Ashton IL www.ChanaChurch.org Franklin Grove United Methodist Church Facebook search Franklin Grove UMC, Franklin Grove IL Lighthouse United Methodist Church www.facebook.com/LighthouseUMCIL YouTube search HUB Cluster www.facebook.com/NIC HUBCluster Christmas Carol Cruise HUB Cluster Ready to get in the holiday spirit?
Checkout the Hub Cluster Christmas Carol Cruise.
Dec 4-6. Drive by each of the Hub City area churches to sing along and learn the history of 10 different
Christmas Carols. Scan this code to learn more.
library to schedule a time. Masks are
Thank you for your cooperation. ness hours. Mt. Morris patrons can place holds through the catalog, by calling or emailing.
Library staff is quarantining all returned items for a period of time. Recently returned materials may remain on your account longer than usual. No overdue fines will be charged. New library cards: Patrons can call or email the library to set up an appointment to renew or receive new library cards. Please bring a photo id and a second form of id with current address. Contact the library at 815-734-4927 or mmlib@ mtmorris-il.org.
Talk to your neighbors, then talk to me.
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HOLIDAY EVENT Officer handcuffs Grinch after theft in Oregon
Candlelight Walk visitors witnessed the “crime” and “arrest”
BY EARLEEN HINTON ehinton@shawmedia.com
It was a classic Grinch move, but Oregon ain’t no Whoville and this time the big green guy ended up in handcuffs.
The Grinch had a brief relapse into his old Christmas-thievery ways Dec. 19 during Oregon’s second installment of its Candlelight Christmas Walk.
While diners were enjoying tasty treats at Northside BarbaQ the Grinch, disguised as Santa Claus, entered the restaurant on North Fourth Street and started snatching presents from under the Christmas tree.
“Without Cindy Lou Who to stop him we really didn’t know what to do,” said a piano player who was playing holiday tunes when the incident occurred. “He was grabbing the presents and stuffing them into his bag. We were in shock. He was very green but I did not see Max his dog.”
Then the Grinch slithered out the door and headed north with a handful of visitors on his heels, filming documenting his would-be escape.
But that’s when Oregon Police Officer Mason Crawford stepped up.
“Hold it right there,” Crawford said as the Grinch tried to hide behind the lighted Blackhawk Crossing 4-H Club’s lighted float.
Crawford quickly grabbed the bag with the presents and promptly handcuffed the Grinch and escorted him away in a police squad.
Someone close to the investigation said that while in custody, the Grinch’s heart, which was two sizes too small, grew back to normal size and he apologized for the incident and was released back to Whoville officials.
He did, however, have to fulfill community service hours by delivering meals for Northside BarbaQ this week. Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media ABOVE: The Grinch flees down North Fourth Street in Oregon after snatching the presents out from under the Christmas tree at Northside BarbaQ during the second installment of the Candlelight Walk. BELOW LEFT: Oregon Police Officer Mason Crawford loads the Grinch into a squad car. BELOW RIGHT: The Grinch is caught green-handed taking presents and shoving them into a bag.
