Herrin Area Historical Society and Herrin Woman's Club are partnering in a book review/signing by author John Griswold from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at Herrin City Library. Griswold is author of "A Democracy of Ghosts," a fictional story based on the 1922 Herrin Massacre. He is a Herrin High School graduate and currently an English lecturer at University of Illinois.

Autumn concert: Little Egypt Barbershop Chorus presents its eighth annual autumn concert, "Cuttin Up," at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday at Marion Cultural and Civic Center. Guest quartet is the nationally known "Brooks Brothers." Look for barber shoppers from towns all over the region. Bob Campion is director.

Rotary student of the month: The October student of the month is HHS senior Kaylee Mezo. Melissa Frankel nominated her. Both were at Herrin Rotary's luncheon Monday at Herrin Civic Center. Christie Collins is vocational department chairman at HHS.

Open house: Herrin Drug in the downtown area hosts its annual holiday open house from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. David and Tina Mattingly are proprietors.

Crystal Ball: The Crystal Ball comes to Herrin Civic Center Jan. 30 to celebrate winter. Ball chairman Vicki Colombo and her committee, Brenda Brewster, Kathy Boston, Teresa Camarato, Jennifer Frost, Cookie Goodwin and Janice Shahadey have a spectacular evening planned with a silent auction and hand-served dinner from Kindling Caterers. The classic rock/blues band "Crossroads" is on tap. Tickets are $85 per couple. Seating is limited with only 20 tables of eight. Purchase tickets at the civic center. Proceeds go to local charitable causes. The 2009 ball was a rousing success.

Walker's Bluff: The area's newest winery receives applause for the opening of Legends. It's the region's newest upscale restaurant located in a rural setting near Carterville with scores of diners every weekend. Herrin's Myers-Avripas Design Studio (Sam Myers and Ed Avripas) in Herrin created the stellar and stunning interior design. Look for the unusual painting over the fireplace by Sam Myers. David and Cynde Bunch are owners of the 160-acre destination hot spot.

Links: The Links international dinner is set for 6:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at Herrin First Baptist Church. Speaker is Lynn Xu from China. Colette Arnold is dinner coordinator. Contact her at colettearnold@mchsi.com for information. The dinner is free.

Snapshots: Dr. Ed Tresnak, retired HHS principal, staying in shape at the new JALC Rec Center, where scores of Southern Illinoisans hit the treadmills and use the pool in a state-of-the-art facility.

Meredith Ashe, owner of M. on North Market in Marion, the trendy boutique next to Bennie's Italian Restaurant, about to get a brand new roof on her three-story historical building. Did you know she is a personal shopper and closet consultant?

Blend, the smoothies who make waves whenever they sing - Anthony Deaton of Carterville, Andy Smith of Chester and John Estes of Energy - making music and names for themselves in appearances throughout the Midwest.

Bill's Barber Shop owner Brent Pyles and barber Darren Keefer doing a lot of clipping Tuesday through Saturday at 104 W. Cherry.

Call 618-942-3027 or e-mail crthesouthern@aol.com if you have news for The Paper T. Thanksgiving is three weeks from Thursday. Surely not.

CHERYL RANCHINO is a lifelong resident of Herrin. She has penned The Paper Telephone for 34 years.