MARION - A holiday home tour of some of Marion's finest homes, both new and historic, will be from 1 to 5:30 p.m. Nov. 29 to benefit Marion Cultural and Civic Center. Marion Mayor Bob Butler declared Nov. 29 as MCCC Sunday.

Sponsored by Marion Cultural and Civic Center Foundation, the tour featuring six Marion homes and Goddard Chapel will be one of the highlights of MCCC Sunday. Funds will benefit the civic center.

Bids will be accepted until 5:45 p.m. that day for MCCC Foundation's second annual Christmas tree silent auction. Individuals, clubs, organizations, schools, businesses and other groups have donated artificial Christmas trees, completely decorated, to be auctioned. Winning bids will be announced at 6 p.m.

Certificates will be awarded for most beautiful, most original, most whimsical, most elaborate, most representative of the region and for the highest donation received.

Tickets for the holiday home tour may be purchased at the civic center. Cost is $25 for one ticket or $20 for tickets if two or more are purchased at one time. Maps will be provided for the self-guided tour.

The tour includes homes owned by the following individuals:

 Wayland Sims and Dr. Dan Brown, 2789 Kokopelli Drive. A locally and nationally known decorator, Sims owns Distinctive Inte-riors in Marion. Brown is a doctor of podiatry in Herrin.

 Dr. John and Mara Fienhold, 911 N. Market St. Fienhold is a physiatrist at the VA Medical Center in Marion, and his wife is a production director at Christian Life Center in Herrin.

 Mike and Phyllis Dover, 1708 Melmar Drive. Dover is owner and president of Mike Dover Corporation, which specializes in mine and industrial construction. His wife is a retired instructor and career counselor at Southeastern Illinois College. She is co-owner and vice president of the corporation.

 Terry and Vicki Vaughn, 1001 N. Market St. Vaughn is a building automation control project manager for Johnson Controls, and his wife is a realtor with Century 21 House of Realty.

 Dr. Kevin and Shirley Holmes, 2780 Kokopelli Drive. Holmes has a chiropractic practice in Marion, and his wife works at Dis-tinctive Interiors.

 Mike and Julie Parkhill, 1901 Paula Drive. A retired coal miner, Parkhill and his wife moved to Marion two years ago.

In addition to the five homes, Goddard Chapel in Rose Hill Cemetery is on the tour. Goddard Chapel was built in honor of World War 1 veterans in 1918 and has been on the Register of Historic Places since 1986.

The Gothic-style chapel still is used for weddings and funerals. The historic building is owned by the city of Marion in conjunction with Williamson County Historical Society.

- Provided