Kiwanis Club seeking award nominations

MARION - Kiwanis Club of Marion is seeking nominations for its Outstanding Children's Volunteer Award. Nominations must be postmarked no later than Thursday.

The award was established in 2004 to recognize the hard work and dedication of local volunteers who have positively impacted the lives of children. This year's winner will be announced on or near Nov. 19.

Nominees cannot be members of Kiwanis Club of Marion. The winner receives a plaque and a dinner in his or her honor. The organization of the award winner's choice will receive $500. Kiwanis Club of Marion also will offer to provide 40 hours of volunteer service to the organization in honor of the outstanding volunteerism of the award winner.

Nominations may be mailed to Kiwanis Club of Marion, Volunteer of the Year Award Committee, P.O. Box 1672, Marion, IL 62959, or e-mailed to restivo@ilpi.com.

Ribbon cutting set for LEAA mural

MARION - The public is invited to a ribbon cutting ceremony and reception for a newly completed Little Egypt Arts Association mural. The event will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Little Egypt Arts Centre, 601 Tower Square Plaza in Marion.

For more information about LEAA activities, call 618-998-8530.

Fundraiser planned for candidate

HERRIN - Friends of Presley for Sheriff will host a breakfast fundraiser for Dennis Presley from 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Herrin Masonic Lodge, 320 N. 14th St.

The breakfast includes sausage, eggs, gravy, biscuits, juice and coffee. A donation of $8 for adults and $5 for children ages 12 and under is requested.

For tickets or more information, call 618-694-9886.

Park auxiliary to host bazaar

WEST FRANKFORT - Frankfort Community Park Auxiliary will host its Christmas bazaar from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in the banquet room of Frankfort Community Park Aquatics & Activities Center.

Proceeds will benefit the center.

Anyone interested in setting up a booth at the bazaar should call Patton at 618-937-2205 or Kay Herstedt at 618-937-3364.

Wild weekend set at Cypress refuge

CYPRESS - Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge will host Wild Weekend from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in celebration of National Wildlife Refuge Week.

Frank Bellrose Waterfowl Reserve will be open for public viewing. Guided canoe tours, van tours of the reserve, a wild bird program and waterfowl banding demonstrations will take place throughout the day.

For more information or to register for canoe tours, call the refuge at 618-634-2231.

Conference open to teenage girls

MARION - Boyton Street Community Center will host its first teen girls' conference, "New Directions: Soaring to New Heights," at 9 a.m. Saturday.

The community center is located at 501 W. Boyton St. in Marion. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.

The conference is open to all girls who are 13 to 18 years old. There is no fee for the conference. Registration is preferred; however, attendees can register the morning of the conference.

For more information, call the community center at 618-997-1113.

Historical society to host genealogy workshop

MARION - A one-day genealogy workshop will be Saturday at Williamson County Historical Society Museum and Library, 105 S. Van Buren St. in Marion.

The session from 9 a.m. to noon will be a lecture, and the session beginning at 1 p.m. will involve library research. Lecture topics include government documents, overlooked resources, and immigration and naturalization research.

Cost is $15. Registration is requested because seating is limited. Payment may be sent to WCHS, 105 S. Van Buren St., Marion, IL 62959.

The museum and library are open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursdays. It is open until 8 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month.

For more information, call 618-997-5863.

Diabetes Day scheduled at Logan

CARTERVILLE - A multitude of free screenings will be available during Diabetes Awareness and Prevention Day from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at John A. Logan College.

Morning and afternoon sessions will be conducted. Individuals can register for either session. A free lunch will be served.

Sponsored by Southern Illinois Healthcare, the event will feature access to the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois' kidney mobile. The kidney mobile is a custom mobile exhibit which offers free prevention, education and health screenings for diabetes, as well as high blood pressure and chronic kidney disease.

Dental, foot care and vision screenings also will be offered during Diabetes Awareness and Prevention Day, as well as education involving wound care, neuropathy, carbohydrate counting, exercise and insulin pumping.

Physicians and nurse practitioners will be available to counsel individuals about their results and share advice on appropriate follow-ups.

To register, call 866-744-2468.

Women's Day Out at Illinois Centre Mall

MARION - Women's Day Out will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Illinois Centre Mall in Marion.

A fashion show will be at 1 p.m. in the center court. Also, there will be a coloring contest for children, educational activities, interactive games and giveaways.

Hospice to host grief and loss program

DU QUOIN - Hospice of Southern Illinois will sponsor a free community program, "Coping with the Holidays," from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10 in the second-floor conference room of Marshall Browning Hospital, 900 N. Washington St. in Du Quoin.

Space is limited. To register, call 618-997-3030.

Chili cookoff to benefit ACS

MARON - Area residents are invited to form teams and enter a chili cookoff to benefit the American Cancer Society. The chili cookoff will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 14 at Mollie's Bar and Grill, 107 E. Union St. in Marion.

Cost to enter the event is $25 per team. Each team must provide its own extension cord, Crock Pot of chili for the judges and two gallons for spectators to sample. For a $5 fee, people can sample all of the competitors' chili.

The winning team will be awarded $100, a plaque and the title of Southern Illinois Chili Champ. Prizes also will be awarded to second- and third-place teams. Awards also will be given for teams' tent themes.

For more information about the competition, to enter a team or volunteer to help at the event, call Megan at 618-412-0100 or e-mail meganhomoya@yahoo.com.

Benefit planned for Anthony Underwood

ULLIN - A benefit for Goreville native Anthony Underwood and his family will be at 1 p.m. Nov. 14 at Robert Cheek Memorial Center in Ullin. The event features a silent auction, food and music by several groups, including Gloryroad Travelers, of which Anthony is a member.

Because of a sudden illness, Anthony can no longer work. The benefit has been organized by his friends.

For more information, call Janice at 618-697-2849.

Library to host book sale

MARION - Friends of Marion Carnegie Library will host a book sale from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Nov. 20 and 21 at the library. The library is accepting donations of used books and some other items for the sale.

The sale will include books, DVDs, videotapes, CDs, puzzles and more. Most hardback books are $1 and paperbacks are 25 cents. Newer editions and premium items will have special prices well below market value. All available titles are organized by subject, making shopping easy.

The Friends of Marion Carnegie Library is a volunteer group which supports the library in its mission to bring a wide variety of programs and services to the community. The group sponsors sales, summer reading programs and library events and activities.

Annual membership in the group is $5 for adults, $2 for students, $7 for families and $25 for businesses. The group also accepts charitable donations.

For more information, call 618-993-5935 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Contestants sought for Guitar Hero contest

JOHNSTON CITY - A Guitar Hero contest will be Nov. 20 and 21 in Johnston City to raise funds for the town's extreme sports park.

The contest will be in the old fire station bay next to the library on South Washington Avenue off Broadway. Registration begins at 6 p.m. Nov. 20, and finals begin at 10 a.m. Nov. 21. Cost is $3 per two-song set.

Prizes will be awarded for first-, second and third-place winners. The level of difficulty is expert only on Guitar Hero 3.

For more information, call Forrest Lind at 618-889-9939.

Madrigal dinner tickets on sale

INA - Tickets are on sale for Rend Lake College's fourth annual madrigal dinner.

This year's madrigal, directed by RLC Music Director Sara Alstat, is "'Teeney Bob' The Demon Pet Groomer of Sweet Street." Performances are at 7 p.m. Nov. 19 to 21 and 1 p.m. Nov. 22.

Cost is $25 per ticket, which includes dinner and the show. Tickets must be purchased in advance by calling 618-437-5321, ext. 1467.

Quilt and cash bingo to benefit cemetery

RADOM - St. Michael's Church in the Washington County village of Radom will host quilt and cash bingo Sunday to benefit the cemetery.

Doors open at 11 a.m. and bingo starts at 1 p.m. Lunch will be served.

For more information, call 618-521-6169.

Holiday charities list to be published

This newspaper will run a list of local charities on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26. Area groups and organizations that wish to be included should mail information to Holiday Charities, The Southern Illinoisan, P.O. Box 2108, Carbondale IL 62902, e-mail to news@thesouthern.com or fax to 457-2935. Information must be received by Nov. 13.

Include the name and phone number of a contact person, and indicate whether you want the contact number printed in the article or just used by the newspaper in case more information is needed.

Also include a brief summary of what the effort provides. If contributions are needed, indicate how checks should be made out and the address to which they should be sent.

If volunteers are needed, indicate how they can sign-up. If gifts of toys or clothing are sought, indicate where and when they will be collected, or where names can be picked to "adopt" a child or family to provide a happier holiday.