Out and About – Week of November 15th

Last week, I mentioned something about Firefighters for Santa. Since then, I have had a few inquiries as to how one goes about getting on the receiving end of this thoughtful event put together by the firefighters of the Three Rivers Fire Department. If you need help insuring that your children and your family have a memorable Christmas, you’ll need to contact the Family Independence Agency (FIA) in Centreville. Your contact is Margaret Schultz. If you qualify for assistance, she will do her best to see that your Christmas is a merry one.

The Teen Book Club meets Wednesday afternoons from 4 until 5 P.M. at the Three Rivers Public Library, 103 South Douglas, in Three Rivers. This fall’s selection is Highest Duty, a biography of Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger. If you remember, “Sully” is the U.S. Airways captain, who landed U.S. Airways flight 1549 on the Hudson River. He did this in such a way so as to save all 155 passengers and crew members on board. If you are a student, or if you have a student who couldn’t care less about reading, this might be just the thing to change her/his interest in literature.

If your interests include shopping for gifts or satisfying your appetite for baked goods, then you’ll want to make sure you set aside Saturday, November 20, for the Ninth Street Methodist Church’s Christmas Bazaar and Bake Sale. This activity runs from 9 A.M. until 2 P.M., with a lunch served from 11 until 2. You’ll want to check out the many crafts, gifts, quilts, toys, ceramics, and, of course, the many Christmas decorations that will be available to choose from. The Ninth Street Methodist Church is located at 700 9th Street in Three Rivers. This is just south of Madison Street.

If you have recently lost a loved one and have trouble dealing with those special holidays, you might want to consider attending a three-session support group for those who have lost someone in their life. The three sessions will meet at the Hospice Community Cottage, just south of the Michigan Avenue and Main Street intersection, on South Main Street, in Three Rivers. The dates are November 11, December 2, and December 16. The sessions start at 6:30 P.M. and go until 8 P.M. If you feel that a session like this might benefit you, please register by calling Dawn or Kitty at (269)278-6108.

Thanksgiving is a week from Thursday. This might be the perfect time to make contact with someone you know who might be spending the Thanksgiving holiday alone. No one should ever be alone on a holiday as special as Thanksgiving. Give that someone a call, or pay them a visit and let them know that they are welcome to join you for a delicious Thanksgiving dinner. If you are alone yourself, why not ask someone to join you for a nice dinner out. You would both benefit from the experience. If you know someone in a nursing home, make sure to make time to visit them. I’m sure the nursing home will provide a festive meal, but there’s nothing quite like having someone stop by to let a resident know that they are thought of. The same can be said for someone having to spend the holiday in the hospital. Letting someone know that they are thought of and missed doesn’t cost one penny, and the results from this act of kindness are priceless.

Perhaps you have loved ones living miles away. You just can’t get Out and About to see them. Take a few minutes and make a phone call. These days, calling long distance is inexpensive and very easy to do.

Holidays aren’t the same as they used to be. I remember spending them with family. I didn’t realize then just how important those times were and now they are gone forever, along with most of my family. Memories are all that are left, but the neat thing is that there are still plenty of memories to be made.

See you Out and About!

Submitted by Norm Stutesman

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