PRIDE in Paxton’s annual Christmas parade will be Saturday, November 30 at 1:30. This years theme is “All-American Christmas” and PRIDE in Paxton is inviting all active and retired members of the Armed Forces to participate. Also invited to participate are businesses, marching units, bands, Christian and civic floats, antique vehicles, new cars, farm machinery, individuals and families. Judges will choose the best entries in the following areas: best of show, theme oriented, and most unusual/unique. To sign up to participate, call Teri Hancock or Rhonda Blackford at 379-4245.
Helping Gifford
We know there are so many people who are wanting to help the residents of Gifford, Illinois but aren’t sure how. Here is a list we have put together for anyone who is interested in helping out our neighbors.
The Paxton Record, 208 N. Market St. in Paxton, is serving as a collection site for donations of toiletries — including toothpaste, soap, hairbrushes, combs, toilet paper, paper towels, shampoo, bodywash, laundry soap, fabric softener, diapers and deodorant — along with gift cards, pet food, plywood, nails, screws, and moving/packaging supplies. All of the items received will be brought to Gifford.
Another drop-off site is at Shields Automart on West Ottawa Road next to Interstate 57 in Paxton. Among items needed are bottled water, canned goods, clothing, cleaning supplies and toiletries.
Gordyville is also a great drop off point. Last time I checked, Gifford residents are in need of plastic totes with lids, boxes, flashlights and batteries.
If you want to volunteer, you cannot just drive over and walk into town. You have to be on a list to get into town and you have to be invited by a home owner. This is due to Ameren hanging lines and getting poles up and to keep traffic at a minimum. Best donation is a check to the Gifford State Bank Tornado Relief Fund, POB 400, Gifford, IL 61847.
To Our Veterans
Words can never truly express the gratitude and appreciation that we feel. How can we convey the thankfullness to the men and women throughout our history that have fought and died to protect and promote the freedoms we hold so dear. Saying thank you just doesnt seem to truly express these feelings but we must let these men and women know that we do appreciate the sacrifices they have made and continue to make. We must make every effort to be there for them as they have been there for us. Though these two words do not and cannot fully express the way that we feel I say them to all our Veterans
“THANK YOU”
Thanksgiving Meal Offered by The Paxton Church of Christ on November 28
The Paxton Church of Christ will provide a free home-cooked Thanksgiving Day feast to the public at 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 28. If you, or someone you know, would like to attend, you are asked to email Liz at pccsecretary@conxxus.com or call her at 379-4443 by Nov. 22.
Veteran’s Day Observances
Monday, November 11 is Veteran’s Day. There will be two Veteran’s Day programs that day, hosted by
the Paxton-Buckley-Loda school district and the PBL High School band.
The first one is at 8:30 and is aimed at younger children.
A community-wide program will be at 9:30 and will include a color guard made up of veterans from the Paxton and Loda American Legion posts.
Both programs will be held in the high school gym.
Community Garden for Paxton?
The Paxton Park District’s board of commissioners plans to decide in November whether to move forward with a proposed community garden at Coady Park, including whether the district might help fund the nearly $12,000 needed to install a water line for the garden.
The board heard last week from Ruth Ann Noble, a member of the Paxton United Methodist Church’s outreach committee, which proposed the community garden last year.
Noble said initial plans for the community garden include renting out 20 garden plots, each 30 by 17 feet in size, to individuals, families or organizations. The garden would be built east of the soon-to-be opened dog park.
One obstacle still in the way, however, is the source for the garden’s water supply, Noble said. Noble and her outreach committee estimate that the garden needs at least three accessible water faucets among the plots.
The outreach committee contacted plumber Joe Emberson of Emberson’s Quality Plumbing of Paxton to determine the cost to access the city’s water supply and to provide a water source and linkage to hydrants for the proposed garden.
In a written estimate, Emberson proposed the installation of 800 feet of 2-inch water line and 4-yard hydrants for the garden that would extend from a city water source on Fall Street — which is parallel to the west edge of Coady Park — and run along the north side of the park.
The estimated costs total $11,734, including $3,200 for digging, $6,534 for plumbing and $2,000 to the city of Paxton. Emberson told Noble the water line would be able to accommodate most of the future water needs related to other proposed activities at Coady Park, including the dog park.
“That price sounds big, but it would probably be adequate for most of the other plans,” Noble said.
The board’s vice president, Steve Sample, said following last week’s meeting that the idea for the garden was “still in the research phase” but would be discussed further in November.
“It looks like next month we’ll have it on the (meeting’s) agenda, and the board will vote on whether we want to pursue that,” Recreation Director Neal McKenry said.