Amanda Hart Participating in Texas MS 150

INCHESTER News

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Amanda Hart is representing Team Winchester in the MS150 this year. She is not only training to once again conquer the hills of Bastrop State Park, but also exceed her fundraising goal.

Amanda will be riding from the State Capitol to La Grange, cycling through Winchester between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 29 and then from La Grange to Kyle Field on Sunday, April 30. This totals approximately 159.5 miles with an average cycle time of 5.5 hours on Saturday and 6 hours on Sunday, not including break times.

Through fundraising efforts, 79 cents of every dollar goes directly to improve the lives of people living with MS. Please contact Amanda if you would like to support her fundraising efforts. You can donate directly to Amanda or call her at (979) 540-0600 for more information.

Round Table Book Club The Round Table Book Club will meet on Tuesday, April 18 at 7 p.m. at Zilss Hall. The book to be discussed is The Diamond Eye, a fictionalized true story of Mila Pavilchenko, a female sniper in the Russian Army during WWII known as “Lady Death.” Everyone is welcome.

Winchester Farmer’s Market At the April meeting of the Winchester Area Civic Association meeting, it was decided to hold a community Farmer’s Market to be held on the grounds of Zilss Hall the first Saturday of the month beginning on May 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon. Vendors will be able to sell their fresh locally grown produce, eggs, baked goods, jams, spices, as well as handmade items such as quilts, jewelry, woodworking items etc. Vendor booths will cost $10 and you must provide your own tables. Community members are encouraged to participate both as vendors and as customers. For more information and to register for a booth, contact Isaac or Shanti Odom at (512) 913-9110.

Winchester Cemetery Assoc.

May 7 at 11 a.m. the Winchester Cemetery Association will hold its annual meeting at the St. Michael’s Park 700 Frio St. Winchester, TX. This year we will again join together and enjoy a meal consisting of BBQ pork steak, noodles, potato salad, green beans, bread and tea. The price for the meal will be $15 per plate. Please RSVP no later than April 26 by calling or texting Amanda Hart at (979) 540-0600. Annual dues are $10 per member. If you are unable to attend our annual meeting, please mail dues and/or monetary donations to: Winchester Cemetery Association 8315 FM 153 Winchester, Texas 78945.

Date Change for Garage Sale

A garage sale will be held in the community of Winchester on Saturday, May 6 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The date had to be revised due to the MS150. If you are interested in participating, please contact Bobbie Hajek at (979) 639-1646, WACA to Offer Scholarship

This year Winchester Area Civic Association will be offering a $1,000 scholarship to a person 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 helps your community. We feel careers in these areas serve our community and this is a way to show appreciation to those entering these fields. Scholarship must be submitted by May 15, 2023. Please email richardbarbschafer@gmail.com or call Barb Schafer (254) 644-0336 for scholarship application.

Quilt Block Paint Class

You may now register for the next class which will be held on May 20 from 10 am to 4 p.m. at Zilss Hall in Winchester. If you would like to paint a 2x2 foot block to hang on an exterior wall, gate or fence please register on the website, www.quiltblocktrail. com. All supplies are provided and the cost for the class is $75. You will need to bring a sack lunch and wear appropriate clothing for painting. Templates are provided for you to choose your design, or you may bring your own. You may register on line at www. quiltblocktrail.com. If you have any questions, please call Rhoda Gersch at (512) 2370842. 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.

Quilt Trail and Wildflowers

The bluebonnets are starting to disappear but other wildflowers are also beautiful this year, so it is the perfect time to 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-drive, 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 from May 1-20 for minor 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. Also on the patio, there is a bulletin board available to post event notices.

Birthdays

Birthday wishes are extended to Wit Hatton-April 18; Bryce Miertschin and Roger Loewe-20; Hailey Gonzalez- 22; and Clara Bundick-23.

Anniversaries

Anniversary celebrantes include Nancy and Don Buck-April 18 and Brittni and Michael Adams-20.

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.

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) 6291428. 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. You are welcome to visit.

In Our Prayers

Those on the prayer list include: Dale Dunk, Sam Gibbs, Jim Gicklhorn, Evelyn Haschke, Bea Kilian, Mary Lehmann, Rose Lehmann, Ramona Lopez, Travis Miertschin, and Layne Schramm.

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

Calendar of Events

April 15-Quilt Block Paint Class begins at 10 a.m. at Zilss Hall (class is full).

April 18-Winchester Round Book Club meets at 7 p.m. at Zilss Hall.

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

April 25-Winchester Area Volunteer Fire Department meeting at 7 p.m. at the Fire Station.

May 1-WACA meeting begins at 7 p.m. at Zilss Hall.

May 1-May 19 - Zilss Hall closed for renovations.

May 6-Farmers Market at the grounds of Zilss Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon 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.