WACA Seeks Volunteers for MS150 Rest Stop at St. Michael’s Park

St. Michael’s Park MS150 organizers have asked WACA to provide 6-10 volunteers (more are welcome) to set up a rest stop, welcome riders, cheers, etc. The event will provide all necessary items, such as tents, tables, chairs, food, and hydration on Saturday, April 25 from 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Contact Michele Weth at (281) 435-9245 or

sweetcity@aol.com if you can help with this event.

Winchester VFD 

The Winchester Area Volunteer Fire Department needs you. I reported in an earlier column that the department had 32 volunteers. That was an error. 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.

America’s 250th Birthday 

Winchester Area Civic Association is placing American flags along FM 153 in Winchester as a patriotic display to celebrate its 250th Birthday. You can sponsor a flag for a $30 donation. All sponsors will be proudly recognized in the local paper and Facebook page. Find out how to sponsor a flag contact Tom Atkins at (512) 557-2239 or Michele Weth at (281) 435-9245. Join in honoring our nation by being a part of a beautiful patriotic display that celebrates our history, unity and community spirit.

WACA Scholarship 

The Winchester Area Civic Association (WACA) will be offering scholarship(s) to 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 areas that helps in this or your future community.

The Winchester Area Civic Association feels careers in these areas serve our community and this is a way to show appreciation to those entering these fields.

To qualify:

• You must be a resident of the area serviced by Winchester Area Civic Association.

• Be a senior attending or have attended a school in the area serviced by Winchester Area Civic Association.

• Enrolled in an institute of higher learning program by the fall of 2026. Proof of enrollment must be submitted before the scholarship is funded. Checks will be mailed to the institution that you are enrolled in.

• Or you must have been enrolled in college for at least one semester. You must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher.

Application deadline is April 30. Please contact Barbara Schafer at

richardbarbschafer@ gmail.com

or call (254) 644-0336 for an application which must be submitted by email, hand delivery or by USPS to mailbox by April 30 to

richardbarbschafer@gmail.com

or WACA Community Service Scholarship Committee, ℅ Barbara Schafer, 8945 Hwy. 153, Winchester, Texas 78945.

Mother’s Day Chicken BBQ 

Pre-sale for Mother’s Day chickens can be placed now. Orders can be picked up on May 10, 10:30 a.m.-noon at the St. Michael’s Park.

The price for a whole chicken is $15 with BBQ Sauce containers at $2.00 each.

Sign-up sheets are available in the St. Michael’s Church Narthex and at Shorty’s in Winchester or order by calling/texting Kelly at (979) 966-7414 or Jake at (979) 966-7416.

All proceeds will support our youth group.

Women’s Luncheon 

The May luncheon for the Winchester Women will be on Thursday, May 14 at 11 a.m. at Murphy’s Steakhouse in Winchester. Please come and bring a friend. Contact Bobbie Hajek, at (970) 639-1646, to make reservations so she can let the restaurant know the number of participants.

Quilt Block Class 

If you are interested in taking a quilt block class, the next class will be scheduled on June 13 and runs from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. with a cost of $90. All supplies are provided for you to finish a 2’x2’ block. Design templates are available. Dress appropriately for painting.

Bring your lunch and beverage. There is a refrigerator, microwave, and Keurig available Class size is limited to 10. To register for a class go to

www.quiltblocktrail.com

and complete the registration form. Your registration is not confirmed until payment is received. After filling in the registration form you may pay by credit card. Look for “click here” to complete the transaction. If you wish to pay by check, make checks payable to WACA and send them to: WACA, 8945 FM 153, Winchester Texas 78945. For more information about the class contact Karen Kilian at (979) 966-7091.

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. 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 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 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 Priscilla Bohot- April 15; Sarah Lude-16; Wit Hatton- 18; Bryce Miertschin and Roger Loewe-20.

Anniversary 

Congratulations are sent to Brittni and Michael Adams-April 20.

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. Rev. Nate Hill is the pastor.

Calendar of Events 

April 14-Young at Heart meets at 2 p.m. at Zilss Hall; Winchester Area Volunteer Fire Department meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Fire Station.

April 21-Round Table Book Club begins at 7 p.m. at Zilss Hall; Young at Heart meets at 2 p.m. at Zilss Hall; 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.

W INCHESTER News