PAGE

Nothing but good news and good people doing great things from the Arlington, Cherry, Ladd, Seatonville/Hollowayville, Spring Valley, and Dalzell area

A John the Barber Foundation Publication

V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 3 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 3

St. Thomas More Dalzell Famous Tortellini Fund Raiser Back Into Full Swing!
Members at St. Thomas More Dalzell are hard at it, again producing their famous tortellini as part of a holiday season fund raising effort. Current and previous residents of Ravioli Alley know how great they are. Whether prepared with sauce or in broth, they are awesome! Hats off to St. Thomas More members and their other friends for putting in all the work to get them made! The effort will continue through January. Those interested in placing an order can call 815.664.4615.

Dont Forget: Cherry United Church of Christ/Holy Trinity Cherry Pie & Coffee Social Hour, first Thursday of each month. 1:30 3:30 at Cherry Church Hall. Bring a friend!

Father Kevin did a lot of great things

Heard a great little story about Father Kevin Gorman recently. As many of you know, Father Kevin was very a famous teacher, athletic director and mentor at St. Bede and also was pastor at St. Patricks Arlington and Holy Trinity Cherry for several years. A former student of his related the following story. We were playing a game on the road and Father Kevin was driving the bus. After the game, someone from overly excited crowd surrounding our bus tossed a soda can in the window of the bus striking someone. Another kid on our team tossed the can back out the window. Father Kevin had only seen what our student had done. He came to the back of the bus and disciplined him terribly in front of all of us. Father Kevin went outside and apologized to the crowd (can you imagine?). Driving us back to St. Bede, Father Kevin, obviously upset, was approached by someone from his staff who explained what had really happened. Father suddenly pulled off the road at a gas station and went inside. He returned to the back of the bus and put his hand on the students shoulder and gave him a Coke.

Hollowayville UCC
Tuesday December 3, 2013 Members of Ladies Aid will have Christmas gathering at 11:30 a.m. If interested call Jane 815.447.2877 Sunday Dec 15, 2013, Sunday School will have a Birthday Party for Jesus following Sunday Service.

Stop focusing on how Stressed you are and remember how Blessed you are!

100+ Years Later, Its Time for More to Know about Unknown Hero of the Cherry Mine Disaster

Spring Valley UCC

Saturday Dec 7th @ 8:00 a.m. Annual Cookie Walk

Christmas Mass/Services Schedule for Ravioli Alley Churches

Arlington St. Patricks Cherry Holy Trinity Cherry United Church of Christ Dalzell St. Thomas More Hollowayville United Church of Christ Seatonville Congregational Church Spring Valley United Church of Christ Spring Valley Nativity of our Lord Christmas Eve 10:00 p.m. *Christmas Eve 4:00 p.m.* Christmas Day 10:00 a.m. Christmas Day 8:15 a.m. Christmas Day 8:00 a.m. Christmas Eve 7:00 p.m. Christmas Eve 7:00 p.m. Christmas Eve 7:00 p.m. Christmas Eve 4:00 p.m. (Mautino Drive) Christmas Eve 5:30 p.m.(Greenwood St.) Christmas Day 9:00 a.m. (Mautino Drive)

Seatonville Congregational Church

They were many highly recognized and honored heroes involved in the Cherry Mine Disaster. Of course the twelve men who gave their lives on the heroes rescue cage all received the Carnegie Medal for heroism and national notoriety, as did some men who lead the 8 day men to their rescue. There were others who were well noted in newspaper accounts of the time for their efforts during the relief efforts and aftermath. John John the Barber Stenstrom himself of course is now more widely known for all that he did at that time. Still, the heroic efforts of one man were not widely discussed until now, over 100 years later! Olie Freeburg was the third vein cager at the air shaft. Many stated that they saw him remaining at his post, helping men from the third vein make their way up to the second vein. In fact, it was Olie who helped use a hose to put out the burning car of hay that had been dropped from the second to the third vein in the earlier minutes of the fire. Obviously Olie sacrificed himself working to save others, waiting to make his own escape until it was too late. Unmarried, his body was identified by a local shopkeeper. The photo above is of his burial on the west side of the Cherry cemetery. Olie lies there today in an unmarked grave. What a great example of a good person doing great things! Sunday Dec 8, 2013 6:00 p.m. Alternative Worship Gathering featuring highly acclaimed folk/ gospel/duet ALATHEA
from Tennessee. ALATHEA will be leading worship and Christian concert afterwards! acebook.com/ secondsunday.seatonville

*Cherry Holy Trinity Christmas Eve 4:00 Overflow: As was the case last year, overflow from the 4:00 mass can watch the mass LIVE at the Cherry Church Hall. Communion, collection, etc. Over 100 attended there last year.

Hey parents and grandparents! Sign up the kids for St. Pats Arlington/Holy Trinity Cherry 2013-14 Religious Youth Education!
You are doing a great job ensuring that your kids and grandkids physical, social, and educational health is in good shape. Dont forget their spiritual health! All faiths welcome. Classes on Sunday mornings. Please email or call Julie at JulieHTC@Outlook.com /815.894.2006 (mornings Tuesday Friday) to register your child. www.CherryHolyTrinity.org

VOLUME

1,

ISSUE

PAGE

PAGE

Great comments received about Up Ravioli Alley

Thanks for all you guys are doing. We pass it around the nursing home and everyone enjoys it. Thanks John the Barber. I cant tell you how much it means to me to be able to keep in touch on whats going on there in Ravioli Alley. Its like Ive never left except its 48 years later. Keep up the good work. Nice publication. Pete Pranzini, San Jose, California I enjoy the newsletter very much. Keep up the good work and God bless you!

Ladd 125th Committee Presents Legacy Girls March 30, 2014:

A couple tickets would make a great Christmas stocking stuffer!
The Ladd 125th Committee will present "Legacy Girls" with proceeds from the event going to the 125th anniversary effort. Their performance will be on Saturday March 30, 2014 at the Ladd Grade School Gymnasium from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. From the Chicagoland area, the three Legacy Girls originally met singing at church. They formed their group in 2006 primarily honoring the Andrews Sisters but have since expanded to other musical selections from the 40s 60s. To learn more about the Legacy Girls, check them out at www.LegacyGirls.com. Pre-event tickets are $10 and available that day at the door for $12. For more information call Sandy Galetti at 815.894.2954.

Lous LaGrotto makes Ravioli Alley Proud with much needed Delivery of fresh Pizzas to Tornado Ravaged Washington, IL
Merry Noonan of Lous LaGrotto and her team were really Good People Doing Great Things when they pulled together to deliver a truck load of fresh pizzas to the folks in Washington, IL who had just been hit by a terrible tornado. Team members Allison Nichols and Adam Stuart made the super special delivery. Drop Merry and Lou LaGrotto a note or Like them on their Facebook page and tell them how much we appreciate all they do!

Holy Trinity Cherry On-Line Mass Handy for Senior, Shut-ins During Winter Months
Holy Trinity Cherry masses are available to watch LIVE or recorded over the Internet at www.CherryHolyTrinity.org. A number of people have thoughtfully set this up for various senior and shut ins so that they can comfortably watch the mass from their home. There are regular viewers in Ravioli Alley and outside the area including Peoria, Rockford, and Joliet. Do a little something great and set this up for your senior/shut-in friends.

Leader in the Making! Jake Merkel of Ladd receives Hall High HOBY
Jake Merkel, of Ladd, is the recipient of the 20132014 Hall High Hugh OBrien Youth Association HOBY award. The award recognizes students with strong leadership potential and is exclusively for high school sophomores. Jake will attend a three-day seminar this summer at the University of Illinois and interact with other HOBY award winners. He was selected by his faculty and peers for the honor. He is the son of Shelli and Mark Merkel. Way to go Jake! (Way to go Shelli and Mark!)

Christmas in Cherry,
CORRECTION Ladd is NOT lying about their age!
We made a typo in the November issue. The 50/50 drawing for the Ladd 125 th Committee will be drawn June 7, 2014 which is Ladds 124th anniversary. The funds will be used for Ladds 125th Anniversary in 2015. Each month Up Ravioli Alley will update you on what the grand prize amount $ is building to. Again, Tickets now available at North Central Bank, Special Effect Barber/Beauty Salon, A Vintage Venue, Softtails Bar and Grill, and the Ladd Village Clerks Office. Really, to tell you the truth, we dont think Ladd looks a day over 110!
Please send on this to former 'Ravioli Alley' folks who have left the area. Get us their email address and we will email to them every month!

Sunday December 1st. Check it out!

Hope this issue hits the street in time for you to get this and to attend. Lots to do all day in Cherry, Sunday December 1, 2013. Lot of fun and fellowship going on all day including: vendor fair at the grade school, Holy Trinity bake sale, raffles, bingo, grand parade (begins at 11:00 a.m.), State Bank of Cherry open house, special luncheons at Brunos and JTs, cookies/punch/photos with Santa sponsored by Cherry Booster Club, Magic by Cory (1:00), Cherry Library Open House, Cherry Country Store crafts/hot cocoa, Furry Friends Petting Zoo, Cherry United Church of Christ New to You sale, special Snowmen on Display designed by Cherry Grade School students (you need to see this!)

St. Patricks Arlington Asking you to share a family secret (recipe)

St. Patricks Arlington is collecting recipes for their 2014 Parish Sesquicentennial recipe book. They are in need of them by December 15, 2013. The recipe form is available in the back of the church or on -line at the joint parish web site www.CherryHolyTrinity.org. St. Pats appreciates any recipes submitted from outside the parish as well. Recipe books will be for sale this coming spring.

VOLUME

1,

ISSUE

PAGE

PAGE

Lady Bruins Volleyball Aids St. Margarets Hospital Breast Cancer Efforts
In their game against Princeton October 15, 2015, the St. Bede Girls Volleyball team held a Pink Night to benefit the St. Margarets Hospital Breast Cancer awareness efforts. Through a combination of shirt sales and raffles and with the assistance of the St. Bede cheerleaders and the Princeton Lady Tigers, the event raised a total of $1,200.

Ladd Christmas Walk, Light up the Holidays, Saturday Dec 7, 2013

You're invited to join in the 2013 Ladd Christmas Walk "Light Up the Holidays" from 3:00 to 7:00pm on Saturday, December 7th. Activities planned include horse drawn wagon rides, a storyteller, musicians, carolers, Snowman Parade at 5:00pm, lighting contest with maps of Ladd's "lighted houses", bake sale, kid's crafts and face painting, food stands selling popcorn, hot chocolate, smores, hot dogs, brats, roasted nuts, etc., local artisans and gifts, ornament making, pictures with Santa, door prizes, bell ringers, a mailbox for letters to the North Pole, a Christmas greenery sale, and Grace the white-tailed deer. In addition, 125th Anniversary items will be offered for sale at the Village Hall. Call (815) 894-2092 or email hocking4@comcast.net for more information or to share your ideas.

Giving Goodness Baskets from Hall Township Food Pantry: A Great Way for you to make a needy familys Christmas bright!
The Hall Township Food Pantry is holding a Giving Goodness Baskets Christmas fundraiser now through December 15, 2015. The effort will see the food pantry distributing Christmas Dinner Baskets to needy families. Donations are $35 for each basket. If you, your family, or your organization would like to donate one or more baskets to needy families in Hall township, please send you check made out to Project Success to Hall Township Food Pantry, 500 N. Terry St. Spring Valley, IL 61362. If you have questions please call 815.663.2085. Heres a little way to do something great during the Christmas season!

We need your input for Up Ravioli Alley!

Folks from all over Ravioli Alley are saying we want more! Well.you can help us! Please send us your stories on good people doing great things. Also send us information on upcoming events your non-for-profit group is having. Dont be bashful.now is also your chance to ask for help. what does your organization need? Please drop in the US mail or email to editor@JohnTheBarberFoundation.com.

Heres a few quick Rav-notes...

Kevin Barkley of Dalzell, co-founder of Illinois Valley Historical Research and Recovery Association, recently found a 1976 Depue High School class ring and returned it to it original owner Nancy Linquist. You da man Kevin! Thanks! Chuck Ceccacci of Flowery Branch, Georgia stopped by Ladd Grade School recently to show off his Ride of Pride semi truck. Chuck, a US Marine Corp veteran presents to school kids across the country on the subject of honoring our countrys veterans. Jason Brokaw of Cherry was recently promoted to the rank of sergeant by the city of Peru Board of Fire and Police Commissioners. Jason is a 17-year law enforcement veteran. Next time you see Jason, shake his hand and say congratulations and thanks! Sorry to hear of the passing of Brian Kohr recently. Brian served two tours of duty in Afghanistan and has most recently been serving at the LaSalle Veterans Home. He is the grandson of Joyce and Bill Kohr of Cherry. Thank you Brian for all you have done for us. Hats off to Kathy /Gerry Bonucchi, the Pinter family, Angie Raef (and anyone else we missed) for their great work create beautiful painted, wooden snowmen for every child at Cherry Grade School. They will be displayed all over town for the Christmas in Cherry event Sunday, Dec 1, 2013. Children get to take them home after the event. Great job everyone!

Keep that Ravioli Alley Alumni contact information coming!

Wow! Thanks to everyone for sending contact info for Ravioli Alley Alumni (people who are originally from Ravioli Alley who are living somewhere else). Please continue to send their email address and/or U.S. mailing address. One reader wrote I mailed on the last issue to my out-of-state friends and they loved it. Please email that contact info to editor@JohnTheBarberFoundation.com or via U.S. mail JTB Foundation, Box 88, Cherry, IL 61317.

Do Something Great Be a 1%er for your local organization

A survey of local organizations confirms a common cynereo. If an organization has 100 members, approximately 15 are generally active and 2-3 do most of the heaving lifting. As a goal for 2014, we encourage you to move up the food chain. If you are generally inactive in your organization try to move up to help out on a regular basis. If you are generally active, work to step up and be a leader, mentor to the others. Whether your church asks or not volunteer to be added to the reader, greeter, usher, eucheristic minister call list. Make it a goal to do alittle something great in 2014!

John The Barber Foundation Lends Helping Hand at Ladd Christmas Walk on Saturday, December 7th.
The John the Barber Foundation is lending a helping hand at the Ladd Christmas Walk, Saturday December 7, 2013, filling an open spot at Dimond Bros. Insurance Agency, 123 South Main. Proceeds from the bake sale will go to the Ladd 125 th Anniversary Event Fund. If anyone would like to donate baked goods that day, staff will be there beginning at noon. Please remember to ask JTB for help when you need it!

VOLUME

1,

ISSUE

PAGE

Positive Examples Changed Ebenezer Scrooge Not Scary Ghosts (Borrowed from an old friends school paper)
The old joke goes for some three ghosts would have to visit him some Christmas night to get him to change. The gist is that it took three ghosts to scare Ebenezer Scrooge into changing and it would take three more to change whomever we are talking about. Its interesting to realize though that there actually werent three scary ghosts who called on Ebenezer and it wasnt just the fright of them that caused him to change. Two of the ghosts where friendly or at least non-threatening. The Ghost of Christmas Past showed Ebenezer mostly happy memories from the his past. The Ghost of Christmas Present calmly showed him the good and bad of what was going on in the present. True the Ghost of Christmas Future was frightening, but in the end was it really his scary message and manarisms that really did the trick? True, he likely did complete the task of getting Ebenezer to wake up and change. Still, its interesting to note that most of the night was spent witnessing the many examples of good people doing great things from his past and during his present. In his past he witnessed the goodness of his beloved sister Fannie and his first love Belle. His heart raced like a school boy when revisiting the Christ-like action of his first boss Fezziwig and his early work friends. In the present the charitable men who approach him give him a strong example of Christ-like actions in his business world. While the crowd at his home second guess him, Scrooges nephew Fred forgives his Uncle Scrooge for all his many misgivings and toasts to him a Merry Christmas! Even Bob Cratchet, who Scrooge likely treats worse than anyone of all, forgives Scrooge and expresses to his family that they should all be thankful to Mr. Scrooge this Christmas. On that magical Christmas morning Scrooge is not stressed in figuring out exactly what he needs to do and how he needs to act. Throughout the day he is simply mimicking the Christ-like actions that have been presented as examples to him his entire life.

What a profound message from the 1952 Hall High yearbook! What was said then is just as true today 60 years later. We learn the fundamentals of good living at home through the family circle and through our relationships.

The John the Barber Foundation Box 88 Cherry, IL 61317

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CHERRY, IL 61317 PERMIT NO. 23