Winchester Volunteer Fire Department Seeking Firefighters

There is a need for new firefighters for the department. Please attend and check out how to become a volunteer. Fire trucks will be at the party for the community to see and explore. Bring the kids and learn about the Fire Department.

Mark your calendars for the Winchester Area Volunteer Fire Department Community Christmas Party on Dec. 12. A social will begin at 6 p.m., followed by chili and chicken noodle soup made by the Franke and Kleiber families. Hotdogs will be available for the children. Desserts would be appreciated. Canned food will be collected for the AMEN Food Pantry. Murphy’s Steakhouse has donated a door prize.

WACA Receives Grant

Zilss Memorial Hall soon will receive two air conditioners, a new energy-efficient refrigerator, an upgraded ramp and other needed improvements, thanks to a $10,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative.

The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $4,238 in matching funds from the Winchester Area Civic Association, will pay for upgrades that include renovating a restroom to make it comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, installing new lighting, constructing a closet and adding attic insulation. The association also will rebuild an ADA-compliant ramp into the building and purchase two air conditioners and a refrigerator.

Light the Night

A “Light the Night” outdoor Christmas decorating contest will be held in the Winchester area to celebrate the holiday. Register by Dec. 14 by sending your address to Zilsshallwinchester@gmail. com. All participating entries will receive a one-year membership to WACA for the 2024 year. Judging will be completed on Dec. 15 and 16 with ballots being turned in by 9 p.m., Dec. 16 on the patio at Zilss Hall. A social will be held at the hall on Dec. 17 at 5 p.m. The winners will be announced with cash prizes being awarded for 1st-3rd places. For more information contact Barb Schafer at richardbarbschafer@ gmail.com.

Food Donation Drive

Winchester 4-H will be sponsoring a food drive to benefit the AMEN Food Pantry on Dec. 6-20. All donations should be non-perishable items and be dropped in the donation box at the Narthex of the St. Michael’s Lutheran Church.

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 and not blow out. Reminder: these bins are not for household garbage. Please recycle items only.

Dinah 4 Ranch Christmas A free community Christmas event will be occurring West of Winchester at 1231 Hwy. 153. Gates will open at 6 p.m. and will feature a lighted walking trail, Santa visits, children’s activities, and refreshments. The Dinah 4 Ranch Christmas will be open on Dec. 15, 16 and 17; and 22 and 23 from 6 to 9 p.m. Santa will be present between 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Barn Board Quilt Trail Wanting to take a drive in the country. Then 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. 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, 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 will be unavailable for rental in January 2024, due to renovations.

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.

Birthdays

Wishing happy birthdays to Laverne Schulze and Georgiana Fox-Dec. 12; Tish Lehmann and James Liebscher- 13; Grayson Hart and Nancy Stiles-17; Eddie Scneider and Pat Karisch-18.

Anniversaries

Anniversary congratulations to Michelle and Bobby Smith-Dec. 14.

First United Methodist

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.

A Christmas Eve service will be held at 5 p.m. at the Church on Dec. 24. The church members have been collecting food for AMEN and it will be blessed following the service.

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 9:00 am 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.

Advent mid-week services are being held on Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. in the church sanctuary.

At this year’s Christmas Eve Service, the children of the congregation will perform the program. If you would like your child or grandchild to participate, please plan to have them attend all rehearsals for the children’s program. Rehearsals will take place during the Sunday School Hour each week. There will also be a final rehearsal at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 20. To ensure that the children are prepared for their songs and speaking parts, attendance at each of the December rehearsals is mandatory. Please contact Amanda Hart at (979) 540-0600 or another member of the Board of Education for more information.

In Our Prayers

Those on the prayer list include: Kourtney Burton, Sam Gibbs, Bea Kilian, Ramona Lopez, Travis Miertschin, Colton Montgomery, Marceil Prestridge, Layne Schramm, and Angie Zoch.

Calendar of Events

Dec. 12-Winchester Area Volunteer Fire Department Christmas Party at 6 p.m. at Zilss Hall.

Dec. 15-16-Judging of Light the Night Christmas decorations in Winchester Dec. 17-WACA Social and awards for Light the Night at Zilss Hall at 5 p.m.

Have News?

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