Taste of Winchester Honors Top Cooks

The Taste of Winchester was held on Saturday, Jan. 31 with the following cooks recognized for their tasty dishes. Winners in the appetizer categories were Evelyn Parker, Tom Atkins, and Liz Wallace. Winners in the salad category were Brett Pounds, Kayden Gooch and Marceil Prestridge. Rhoda Gersch, Billy Karisch and Kaydin Gooch were winners in the main dish category and Kaydin Gooch, Tom Atkins and Michele Weth winners in the dessert category. Kaydin Gooch was named the Master Chef, winning in 2024 and repeating this year.

Domino Tournament 

On Sunday, Feb. 15 beginning at 11 a.m. the WACAAnnual Domino Tournament will begin with a fried chicken dinner at St. Michaels Park Pavilion. The meal is $15 and will include fried chicken, green beans, potato salad, bread, dessert and tea. Everyone is welcome to come and eat or pick up to go plates from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. The domino tournament will begin at 1 p.m. with both Straight and 42 Dominos being played. Registration for the tournament is $10. Please bring your own partner. Cash prizes will be given to the first, second and third place winners. A silent auction will also be available. BYOB.

Women’s Luncheon 

The women’s luncheon will be held at Murphy’s Steakhouse on Thursday, Feb. 12 at 11 a.m. If you plan to attend, please let Bobbie Hajek know so she can make reservations for the group, by calling (979) 639-1646.

Round Table Book Club “Migrations,” a novel by Charlotte McConaghy is the book that has been selected for the February meeting of the Winchester Round Table Book Club. It is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 17 at Zilss Hall at 7 pm. 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.

Winchester Quilt Block Trail 

Drive out to Winchester, pick up a map at Murphy’s or Zilss Hall, and enjoy viewing the 65 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 and 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.

Birthdays 

Wishing birthday greetings to Butch Baker and Darline Kaiser-Feb. 11; Kyle Pease and Sharon Tienert-14; Brandon Gooch and Kaydin Gooch-16.

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 10:30 a.m. The Rev. Nate Hill is the pastor. You are welcome to visit.

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.