Out and About – Week of November 21st

It seems that this year is rapidly coming to an end. Christmas is a month from Friday. Merchants already have their Christmas items on the shelves. Hopefully, we will not forget Thanksgiving, which is this Thursday. I guess the idea that time goes fast when you’re having fun holds true. I must be having a really good time.

Now is the time to give some thought to “Lights of Love”. Every year we have the opportunity to purchase a light in memory or in honor of someone special. This light will shine from the huge Christmas tree in front of Three Rivers Health. The lights are available for a small donation of $3 each. The lights are not yours to keep, and it’s hard to tell which light is yours, because they all look the same. The purpose of “Lights of Love” is to raise money to purchase something for the hospital. This year, the goal is to take in $12,000, which will be used to purchase vital statistics monitors for the Acute Care unit. This is the 21st year of the fundraiser, and everyone’s help is needed. There will be a special lighting ceremony Saturday, December 10, at 6:30 P.M. Should you have questions, please call Diane at (269)279-9173.

The Trinity Episcopal Church will host their 20th Annual Free Thanksgiving Eve Dinner this Wednesday, November 23, from 4 to 6 P.M. at the church. The menu will consist of turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing, corn, pickled beets, cranberry relish, rolls, and pie. Many thanks to the many volunteers from several area churches for helping make this dinner possible. The dinner is FREE, and all are welcome. There will be a donation box available for those who wish to contribute. Trinity Episcopal Church is located at 321 North Main Street in Three Rivers. For more information, you may call the church at (269)273-3795.

A sure sign of the season is the Three Rivers Community Players’ production Make We Merry,. always held the first weekend of December. The dates for this year’s pageant are December 2 and 3. The curtain rises at 7:30 P.M. both Friday and Saturday evenings. The venue is still the Performing Arts Center, inside Three Rivers High School. This year, on-line purchase of tickets is available. Simply go to the Players’ website, www.trcommunityplayers.org. There is an instruction manual included on the website.

The Carnegie Center for the Arts always seems to have something new on display. It’s always a good idea to stop by periodically and see what’s new, as far as exhibits are concerned. Among other things, the West Michigan Woodturners have on display gorgeous works, which include bowls, vases, and decorative pieces shaped from woods like spalted maple, crab maple, black walnut, and many more. Members include Gary Bean, John Cameron, William Chapman, Martha Croasdale, Jerry Kroehn, A.W. Neff, Larry Watson, and Malcomb Young. The Carnegie is located at 107 North Main Street in historic downtown Three Rivers. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 A.M. to 5 P.M., with Saturday hours 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. You may peruse their website at www.trcarnegie.com.

This Thanksgiving, please take some time to reflect on the things for which you should be thankful for. We all take so many things for granted, and we should try to remember that there’s always someone out there who has it much worse than we do. Take time to be with family, and if you know someone without a family near, invite them to be a part of yours, if only for a short time.

I am thankful for so many things. I am very fortunate to have a loving and supportive wife and family. I never go to bed hungry, although it probably wouldn’t hurt me, and I always have a warm and dry place to sleep. I am especially thankful for the readers of this column. I appreciate your kind words. I am definitely living the dream.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and share your spirit with others.

See you Out and About!

Submitted by Norm Stutesman

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