Thanksgiving, veterans & media luminaries ...

Pastor Brenda's homily, of course, was the high point of Tuesday evening's ecumenical Thanksgiving service at First Lutheran Church. But right up there, too, was the opportunity to sit almost next to media personalities and candy queens Jill (right) and Ann (left) Kerns, with Jim sandwiched between them, as we gathered for coffee afterwards in the parish hall.

Piper's Groceries & Candy, operated for many years by Ann and Jim, now by Jill, had just been featured in a spot on WHO-TV. In case you missed it, you can watch it here.

I didn't think that I was going to be able to find a parking place when I arrived a little late at the church --- so there was a good crowd for the annual service, sponsored by the Lucas County Interchurch Council. This year, we were asked to bring along toothbrushes, toothpaste and other personal care products for distribution at the council's Ministry Center food bank. These useful items usually aren't in the food bank's budget since it focuses primarily on feeding the hungry.

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Many of us at the evening service came there from Carpenters Hall after one of Thelma's outstanding buffet suppers, this one to benefit the new Veterans Memorial Park, under development on the old jail site just northwest of the Legion Hall.

The crowd here was outstanding, too --- and memorial bricks, t-shirts and pins also were available to benefit the project which, when complete, will look like this --- an impression created by Steve Scott.

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During the afternoon, Kathleen, Jim and I got together at the museum to add candy, then fold and staple shut with an historical society informational card more than 200 sacks of peanuts fresh-roasted Monday by Bob and Jerry in the old Piper's Grocery roaster.

We'll be distributing these Friday evening during DazzleFrest on the square, featuring the annual lighted Christmas parade, live window displays all around, open houses in shops and offices, lots of refreshments and other good stuff.

Kay, Rex and Jim erected our big Christmas Tree Monday at Hammer Medical Supply, where the historical society will be in charge of the windows Friday night. We'll be decorating the tree Friday morning. Be sure to stop in to see us in the evening. The Milledge Sisters will be performing World War II-era favorites and I understand that another group will be serving free hotdogs, too. So it should be lots of fun.

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And Sunday is the first in Advent --- where in the world does time go to? It was beginning to look a lot like you-know-what in the Carpenters Hall foyer Tuesday night; and that look will be accelerating now.