A card shower is being held for Don “Mr. Conservation” Pretzsch of Princeton, who will be retiring from his farm management business, Pretzsch Agriculture Services, at the end of the year.

Veterans workshop

CHERRY — At its October meeting, the Cherry Booster Club announced the annual pancake breakfast will be one week early on Sunday, due to the 100th anniversary of the Cherry Mine Disaster event Nov. 14-15. In new business the club noted the annual kids Christmas party will be coordinated with the grade school Christmas program at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 16 in the school gym. All area kids are invited.

MANLIUS — Members of the Manlius Historical Society inspected progress of painting at the bank before meeting for their regular meeting.

WALNUT — “Holiday Shoppe For Our Babies” is the theme for this year’s March of Dimes benefit, set for Thursday.

WYANET — The descendants of William and Mattie (Aldrich) Smith met for their annual reunion Oct. 4 at the Wyanet Park Shelter with 40 people in attendance.

Book club meeting

The Rev. Sue Hamilton (right) and members of the DePue UCC Church Ladies Guild prepare for the church’s annual chili luncheon and bake sale, to be held Saturday. Doors open at 10 a.m. The cost is $4, which includes a large bowl of chili, crackers and a drink. All proceeds are used by the Guild to purchase items for the church.

MANLIUS — Dressed in Columbia blue and navy uniforms, the Bureau Valley High School marching band has been winning awards and entertaining audiences since the school district was formed in 1996.

PRINCETON — We the People will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Princeton Public Library.

OTTAWA — The 82nd Airborne Division Association John Steele Chapter will hold a regular membership meeting at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at American Legion Post 33, 801 LaSalle St., Ottawa.

AL BAKIR AIRFIELD, Iraq — Sgt. Larry Kearns of Walnut is preparing to shape the future of the Army as he joined the ranks of the non-commissioned officers Oct. 1.

Auxiliary workshop

SPRING VALLEY — Lisa Clinton, registered nurse, director of occupational health at St. Margaret’s, recently obtained certification as an Illinois Professional Emergency Manager.

PRINCETON — Lori A. Schultz, D.C., of Princeton attended the annual fall convention of the Illinois Prairie State Chiropractic Association Oct. 9-11 in Utica.

Illinois Valley Community Hospital is the beneficiary of a $2,750 Walmart Community Grant.  Kelly Kruse, general transportation manager of the Walmart Distribution Center in Spring Valley, and Rob Lentz, human resources manager of the center’s transportation office, present the check to Harry Erlenborn, president of the IVCH Foundation. The money will be used to help IVCH cover the cost of an ankle-brachial index (ABI) measurement system for the hospital’s diagnostic imaging department.

Dexter Brigham, executive artistic director of Festival 56, updates the attendees at a fundraiser at Fitzgerald’s Piano Lounge on the fall professional theatre season opening Nov. 6 and gave them a preview of the 2010 season. He announced that the 2010 summer season shows would be all comedies. Mary Phillips, vice president and acting president of Princeton Theatre Group, thanked the attendees and explained that all proceeds from the fundraiser support Festival 56’s ability to present Shakespeare in the Park each summer for six weeks of free outdoor performances for patrons from the Festival’s hometown of Princeton as well as visitors. Festival 56’s fall season three-ticket packs are available at the box office, 316 S. Main St., Princeton,

Caped-crusaders, princesses, witches and even a hippy paraded down Prophetstown's Main Street last week. One of the most unique costumes was a little girl in a bubble bath, complete with a rubber ducky!

PRINCETON — The Princeton-Illinois Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution will meet at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in the Bureau County Republican Community Room, 800 Ace Road. The program “Native American Indian Flute Playing,” will be presented by Nancy Gillfillan of Putnam.

Toy drive

The American Legion Auxiliary Unit 125 of Princeton wants to say “Thank You” to each and every one you who supported our recent “Overseas Troops Christmas Box” campaign. This is our largest year yet with this National Security program and the response has been overwhelming despite the economy crunch. We received lots of items to fill the boxes and the monetary donations will help so much with the postage needs to mail the boxes. Thanks so much.

I want to thank Princeton High School for using DJ’s memorials we donated in 2007 to the school for suicide prevention in bringing Cheryl Robinson’s Living Works program to our community. The program Monday night was just what our community needed.

The Princeton Optimist Club has elected officers for the 2009-10 club year. They include (front) Ray Vetter, board member; and (back row, from left), Warren Reinhardt, board member; Gary Moreland, board member; Carol Bird, treasurer; Bob Byrne, vice president;  Barry Montague, lieutenant governor for Optimist International Zone 3; Dick Volker, president; and Gary Patterson, secretary. Absent from the photo were board members Jean and Don Bates, and Jesse Schroyer.

Hungry diners sample a variety of different chilis at the third annual Chili Cookoff, held at City-County Park in Princeton on Oct. 17. There were 15 entries for the tasting and about 100 people in attendance. The winner of the Best Overall Chili was Belinda Brown; the most creative, Steve Gunning. Hailey Schultz won the Sweetest Chili Award and Sarah Field won the Spiciest Chili Award. The People’s Choice Award (voted on by the attendees) was Hector Gomez. Gomez was a winner the past two years and was the young man on the billboard this year advertising the event.

Breakfast planned

PRINCETON — The Bureau County Committee of the 13th Judicial Circuit Family Violence Prevention Council has announced a suicide prevention forum titled “suicideTALK,” will be presented by Cheryl Robinson at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 5 at the New Hope Church, 30 N. Sixth St., Princeton.

PRINCETON — Most every day is a good day for golf, according to Betty Mercer of Princeton.

Children at LaMoille-Clarion Public Library enjoy working on masks during a Halloween Story Hour held at the library on Oct. 24.

PRINCETON — The Princeton Public Library will hold an After School Craft Day from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Thursday. The activity will be pumpkin carving. Also, the Book Club will meet at 7 p.m.

PRINCETON — Rick R. Clary, community bank president for Central Bank Princeton, has announced the appointment of Betty Fisher as a mortgage loan originator for the bank.