Neighbors Night Out Returns July 15 at Zilss Hall
The first Neighbors Night Out for the summer of 2026 will be held Wednesday, July 15 at 6:30 p.m. at Zilss Hall in Winchester. This is an opportunity to visit with your neighbors, both old and new. Please bring a dish to share. Iced Tea will be provided. You are welcome to BYOB. Rhoda and Sherwood Gersch will be your host and are inviting everyone in the Winchester area to enjoy the evening.
Winchester VFD Fish Fry The Winchester Area Volunteer Fire Department annual Fish Fry fundraiser is fast approaching. Mark your calendars for Saturday, July 25 to come out to the St. Michael’s Park Pavilion in downtown Winchester for a Fish Fry dinner between 5-7 p.m. The meal is dine in or carry out and is a free will donation.
A silent auction will be held from 4-6 p.m. with a Live Auction beginning at 6 p.m. This is a chance for great food, exciting auction items, family friendly fun, meeting with old and new neighbors and supporting a great cause.
Winchester Fire Department needs you. The fire department has only 14 first responders currently. They are in desperate need for young men or women who would like to be trained to be first responders and help their community. Please contact a fire department member for more information.
Quilt Block Class
If you are interested in taking a quilt block class, the next class will be scheduled on July 11 and runs from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. with a cost of $90. All supplies are provided for you to finish a 2’ x 2’ block. Design templates are available. Please dress appropriately for painting. Bring your lunch and beverage. There is a refrigerator, microwave and Keurig available. Class size is limited to 10 people. To register for a class to www.quiltblocktrail. com and complete the registration form. Your registration is not confirmed until payment is received. For more information, contact Karen Kilian at (979) 966-7091.
Round Table Book Club The Winchester Round Table Book Club will meet on Tuesday, July 21 to discuss the book, “Go Gentle” by Maria Semple. The club will meet at 7 p.m. at Zilss Hall. All are welcome.
Recycling Trailer
All cardboard boxes need to be broken down before placing them in the recycling trailer. 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. The Winchester Recycling trailer is located on the side of Zilss Hall on Memorial Hall Street. Please place your recycling in the appropriate bins.
Community Garage Sales Winchester resident, Becky Leer, is holding a garage sale in the last week of July to sell her pre-school materials which she has collected in her years of teaching. If anyone would also like to join her by having a garage or yard sale of your own, contact her by texting at (979) 966-9392.
Zilss Community Hall
Anyone wishing to rent Zilss Hall should contact (512) 434-0292. The hall is inexpensive and air conditioned and available for rentals.
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.
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.
Birthdays
Happy Birthday wishes are extened to Clara Adams-July 14; Kayla Jakobeit-15; James Wannamaker-16; Sandy Zoch -17; Billy Jo Edson, Easton Leopold and Robert Hamff-19.
Anniversaries
Congratulations to Barbara and Richard Schafer-July 16; Kelly and Tommy Franke-17; and Della and LeRoy Bartlett- 18.
Winchester United Methodist Winchester 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
Shiloh Baptist Church is located on FM 153 at North Raymond Road. For more information, contact Re. 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 10:30 a.m. The Rev. Nate Hill is the pastor. You are welcome to visit.
In Our Prayers
Those on the prayer list include: Briana Adams, Jan Atkins, Kourtney Burton, Sam Gibbs, Bea Kilian, Ramona Lopez, Kolton Montgomery, Eddie Schneider, Dana Srubar, Layne Schramm and Barry Zoch.
Remembering Our Shut-Ins Evelyn Kasper, Lillian Pietsch, and Raymond Schulz In the US Armed Forces US Air Force: Nathan Brothers, Langley, Va.; Ryan Spray, SanAntonio; USArmy: Warren Evans, Fort Bragg, N.C.; Jake Hagood, Ft. Hood; Byron Taylor, South Korea; Seth Lopez, Army Reserve National Guard, Egypt; Kaleb Pyle, Ft. Bliss; US Marines: Damien Hernandez, San Diego, Calif.; Kevin Gonzalez, San Francisco, Calif.; Dylan Robbins, Cherry Point, N.C., Gavin Noa, Cherry Point, N.C.; US Navy: Christopher Brand, Great Lakes, Ill.; Texas National Guard: Erik Vallejo, US Border.
Calendar of Events
July 14-Young at Heart meets at 2 p.m. at Zilss Hall.
July 14-Winchester Area Fire Department meeting at the Fire Station begins at 7 p.m.
July 15-Neighbors Night Out meets at 6:30 p.m. at Zilss Hall.
July 21-Round Table Book Club meets at 7 p.m. at Zilss Hall.
July 25-Winchester Area VFD annual Fish Fry begins at 4 p.m. at St. Michael’s Park Pavilion.
Have News?
If anyone has news or notices to share with readers of the Winchester News column, contact Rhoda Gersch at (512) 237-0842 or email rmgersch@yahoo.com.