INCHESTER News
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St. Michael’s Awarded Grant for New Playground Equipment -
St. Michael’s Awarded Grant for New Playground Equipment
LCRA and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative representatives present a $14,953 grant to Saint Michael’s Lutheran Church for new playground equipment at its community park area. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program. Pictured, from left to right, are: Kate Ramzinski, LCRA Regional Affairs representative; Sherry Murphy, Bluebonnet community and development representative; Mirlyn Griffin, park board and church member; Rev. Nate Hill, pastor; Marceil Prestridge, church president; Mikey Adams, church member; Margaret D. “Meg” Voelter, LCRA Board member; Russell Jurk, Bluebonnet director; Bill Karisch, park board and church member; Darline Kaiser, church member; and Ron Kaiser, church president-elect.
A $14,953 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative will help a church in Winchester replace outdated playground equipment at a community park and play area. The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $4,100 in matching funds from the church, will allow Saint Michael’s Lutheran Church to improve a park on its land that hosts numerous community events and is open to area residents and visitors.
“We don’t have a lot of public resources here in Winchester, so the Saint Michael’s Church park is an important place for people to be able to play and gather,” said the Rev. Nate Hill, the church’s pastor. “If you’re driving by, you’ll often see children out there playing. The highquality equipment we’ll have will make things safer and more enjoyable for them.”
A $14,953 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative will help the church replace outdated playground equipment at the community park and play area. In addition to replacing an old wooden playground structure that had to be torn down because it was unsafe, the church will add rubber mulch and new border trim to replace a sand base and a rotting wooden border trim. The new playground will include a slide, swings, rock-climbing wall and more.
Food Drive for AMEN
The annual Winchester Methodist Church Christmas food drive is being held. All nonperishable items will be accepted up until 5 p.m. on Dec. 24. Items can be boxed and dropped off at the church or you may call a church member to pick up your items. Monetary contributions are also accepted. Join the Christmas Eve Worship Service and the blessing of the donated items from the food drive at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 24.
Light the Night
The third annual Outdoor Decorating contest will be held in Winchester with decorations to be in place for judging on Dec. 16-17. Winners will be announced on Dec. 18 at a social at Zilss Hall. Email to register your decorations to nic.morrison@sbcglobal.net.
WinchesterVFD Christmas Party
The WAVFD Christmas Party will be held on Dec. 13. Social will begin at 6 p.m. and the meal will begin at 6:30 p.m. Please bring a canned food donation for the AMEN Food Pantry. Come and thank these firemen and first responders for their service to the Winchester area.
Dinah 4 Christmas
The Dinah 4 Ranch located at 1231 FM 153 will be holding a Christmas event that will include a lighted walking trail, children’s activities, Santa visits and refreshments. The event will be held on Dec. 16, 17 and 18. The gates will open between 6-9 p.m. with lights out at 9:30 p.m. Santa will visit from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend. Winchester Book Club
The Winchester Round Table Book Club will meet on Dec. 20, at 7 p.m. at Zilss Hall. The book to be discussed is “The Spanish Daughter” by Lorena Hughes. Everyone is welcome.
Recycling Trailer
The Winchester recycling trailer is located on the side of Zilss Hall on Memorial Hall Street. Please place your recycling in the appropriate bins. We would appreciate that you make sure that you close the bins so that any trash will remain in the bins and not blow away.
Barn Board Quilt Trail
Drive out to Winchester, pick up a map at Murphy’s or Zilss Hall and enjoy viewing the 65 quilt blocks displayed in our area. The trail is self-drive, available at your convenience, and is a great way to spend an afternoon viewing quilt blocks on fences, gates, barns, and houses that can be seen from the road. Winchester Barn Board Quilt Trail maps can be picked up at the Texas Quilt Museum, Casino Hall, the Wendish Museum, quilt stores, and other businesses in Giddings, Smithville, and La Grange.
Zilss Community Hall
Anyone wishing to rent Zilss Hall should contact (512) 4340292. The hall is inexpensive and air conditioned.
The Little Free Library
The library is on the covered patio at Hall and is always open and has a variety of authors. Space is limited, so please, if you donate a book(s) look through the current selection and take as many as you leave. Also on the patio, there is a bulletin board available to post event notices.
Birthdays
Happy Birthday wishes to Charles Lehmann – Dec. 6; Mary Lehmann – 7; Austin LaMew and Judah Odom – 8; Debra Koenning – 10; Laverne Schulze and Georgeanna Fox – 12.
First United Methodist Church
The Winchester First United Methodist Church has service on the first and third Sunday of the month at 8:30 a.m. The Rev. Patricia Zaiontz-Newcomer is the pastor.
Shiloh Baptist Church
The Shiloh Baptist Church is located on FM 153 at North Raymond Road. For more information, please contact Rev. Paul Whitmill at (512) 629-1428.
St Michael’s Lutheran Church
The weekly worship service takes place at 9 a.m. on Sunday morning in the sanctuary. Following the worship service, you may gather in the Education Building for Bible Study and Sunday School beginning at 10:15 a.m. You are welcome to visit.
In Our Prayers
Marian Fritsche, Sam Gibbs, Irma Gersch, Evelyn Haschke, Bea Kilian, Mary Lehmann, Rose Lehmann, Ramona Lopez, Travis Miertschin, Layne Schramm, Intz Walker and Pastor Patricia Zaiontz-Newcomer.
Remembering Our Shut-Ins
Charlene Franke, R. C. Franke, Evelyn Kasper, Lillian Pietsch, Thelma Kieschnick, and Audrey Koenning.
In the US Armed Forces
US Air Force: Nathan Brothers, Wilson AFG, Fairbanks, Alaska; Ryan Spray, San Antonio; US Army: Caleb Burton, Ft. Benning, Ga.; Warren Evans, Ft. Wainwright, Alaska; Jake Hagood, Ft. Hood; Byron Taylor, South Korea; Seth Lopez, Army Reserve National Guard, Egypt; Kaleb Pyle, Ft. Jackson, S.C.; US Marines: Damien Hernandez, San Diego, Calif.; Kevin Gonzalez, San Francisco, Calif.; Dylan Robbins, Newport, R.I.; US Navy: Christopher Brand, Great Lakes, Ill.; US Coast Guard: Brett Smith, Corpus Christi.
Calendar of Coming Events
Dec. 13-Young at Heart meets at 2 p.m. at Zilss Hall.
Dec. 13-Winchester Area Volunteer Fire Department Christmas Party begins at 6 p.m. at Zilss Hall.
Dec. 16 & 17-Judging of Winchester Outdoor Christmas Decorating Contest .
Dec. 16, 17 & 18-Dinah 4 Christmas Event at 1231 FM 153 from 6-9 p.m.
Dec. 18-WACA Social and announcement of Winner of Decorating Contest winners at Zilss Hall.
Have News?
If anyone has news to share, contact Rhoda Gersch at (512) 237-0842 or email rmgersch@yahoo.com.
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