Winchester VFD Business Meeting Tuesday

The annual Winchester Fire Department Business meeting is scheduled for March 25 from 6-8 p.m. at Zilss Hall. A fried catfish meal will be served. If you live in the Winchester response area you are welcome to attend.

Spring Fling Party 

The 8th Annual Spring Fling will be held on April 19. Please mark your calendars for a pancake and sausage breakfast, Easter egg hunt, other games along with the Easter Bunny. The fun begins at 9 a.m.

Quilt Block Paint Class TheApril class for painting a quilt block will be on April 12 at Zilss Hall in Winchester. Karen Kilian, paint instructor, has announced that the class is $90 for registration and can be completed online at quiltblocktrail. com. All supplies will be furnished in order that each participant can complete a 2X2 block. Design templates are available. Class runs from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Please dress appropriately for painting and bring a sack lunch, snacks, and beverages. There is a refrigerator, microwave, and Keurig available for your use.

Scholarships Available The Winchester Area Civic Association will be offering a scholarship to a person(s) enrolled or enrolling in an institute of higher learning for careers in the professions helping in the community such as nursing, teaching, criminology/peace officer, fire sciences, dental, radiology/ imaging, EMT certification/ paramedic or other degree that will help in this or your future community.

The application deadline is April 24, 2025. For more information or to obtain an application, please contact Barb Schafer at richardbarbschafer@ gmail.com.

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 it if you made sure that you close the bins so that any trash will remain in the bins.

Winchester Quilt Block Trail Drive out to Winchester, pick up a map at Murphy’s or Zilss Hall, and enjoy viewing the sixty-five quilt blocks displayed in our area on the Quilt Block Trail. The trail is self-driven, available at your convenience, and is a wonderful 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 may be picked up at the Texas Quilt Museum, Casino Hall, the Wendish Museum, Zilss Hall, Murphy’s Steakhouse, quilt stores, and other businesses in Giddings, Smithville, and La Grange.

Zilss Community Hall 

Anyone wishing to rent Zilss Hall should contact (512) 434-0292. The hall is inexpensive and air conditioned. The hall is now available for rentals.

The Little Free Library 

The library is on the covered patio at the 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.

Round Table Book Club 

The March meeting of the Round Table Book Club was well attended and included a lively discussion on the book, “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet,” by Jamie Ford.The next meeting will be at 7 p.m. on April 15 at Zilss Hall with the selection James by Percival Everett. All are welcome.

Birthdays 

Happy birthday greetings are sent to Ethan Hankemeir-March 26; Krystal Burton-27; John Vick-28; Jace Lehmann and Ron Krautz and Will Bundick- 30; and Marie Schulz-31.

Winchester United Methodist 

The United Methodist Church has service on the first and third Sunday of the month at 9 a.m. Richard Johnson is the pastor.

Shiloh Baptist Church 

The Shiloh Baptist Church is located on FM 153 at North Raymond Road. For more information, contact Rev. Paul Whitmill at (512) 629-1428.

St. Michael’s Lutheran 

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. The Rev. Nate Hill is the pastor. You are welcome to visit.

Saint Michael’s has full scholarships available for children of our church members to attend a week of camp this summer at Camp Lone Star. For more information, contact Pastor Nate. Please visit https://camplonestar.org/ lagrange-summer/ to look at the summer and activities.

Camp Lone Star 

Registration for all Summer 2025 programs opened Nov. 12. All campers from ages 5-18 are invited to join us for an unforgettable summer filled with adventurous Christ-centered experiences. From day camp and family camp to 2-night and 5-night overnight experiences, we have something for everyone. See https://camplonestar.org/ lagrange-summer/ to look at the summer and activities.

In Our Prayers 

Those on the prayer list include: Kourtney Burton, Sam Gibbs, Bea Kilian, Ramona Lopez, Travis Miertschin, Kolton Montgomery, Dana Srubar, Layne Schramm, and Sharon Teinert.

Remembering Our Shut-Ins Charlene Franke, Evelyn Kasper, Lillian Pietsch, Thelma Kieschnick, Audrey Koenning, Marie, and Raymond Schulz.

Calendar of Events 

March 25-Young at Heart meets at 2 p.m. at Zilss Hall.

March 25-Winchester Area Volunteer Fire Department annual Business Meeting from 6-8 p.m. at Zilss Hall.

April 7-Winchester Area Civic Association meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at Zilss Hall.

April 8-Young at Heart meets at 2 p.m. at Zilss Hall.

April 8-Winchester Area Volunteer Fire Deptartment meeting begins 7 p.m. at the Fire Station.

April 15-Round Table Book Club meets at 7 p.m. at Zilss Hall. Book to be discussed is “James,” by Percival Everett.

April 19-Winchester Community Spring Fling begins at 9 a.m. at Zilss Hall with the Easter bunny present.

April 22-Young at Heart meets at 2 p.m. in Zilss Hall.

April 22-Winchester Area Volunteer Fire Department meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Fire Station.

Have News? 

If anyone has news to share with readers of the Winchester News column, contact Rhoda Gersch at (512) 2370842 or email rmgersch@yahoo. com.