October 25 – Each year at this time, we experience the fall rites of passage – the leaves start to change colors giving us a beautiful tableau of brilliant oranges, reds, golds, and yellows.

And, of course, Halloween, with all its ghosts and goblins.

We start to think about the coming holidays-planning for visits with family and friends, eating too much, and preparing and bracing for the cold months to come.

And, the annual stews hosted by different organizations. If you pay attention, you could make the rounds of all the local stews and not have to cook dinner on Saturday night for several weeks. And, you can buy enough quarts to carry you over most of the winter.

On behalf of the Abilene Community Club, I would like to thank everyone in the community who came out to support the stew held at the Abilene Community Center last Saturday, October 20.

And, on behalf of the Abilene Homemakers Club, I would like to thank everyone who came out to support our Bake Sale. At the conclusion of the day, we had the drawing for the Quilt Raffle. Bridget Johnson pulled the winning ticket. The quilt was won by a child at the Patrick Henry Boys and Girls Plantation.

The next meeting of the Abilene Homemakers Club will be on Monday, November 12, at 1 p.m., at the Abilene Community Center. We will work on Christmas favors/goodie bags for area nursing homes.

Happy Birthday wishes are extended to Cathy Bissett of Chesapeake (formerly of Abilene) who will celebrate Oct. 31. Happy Birthday wishes also go out to Todd Adams who will celebrate on Nov. 3, Marshall Thackston Nov. 5, and a very special wish to Violet Thackston who will celebrate Nov. 6.

If you have any announcements or news that you would like to share, please call me at 223-2271 or e-mail me at kz5ro@kinex.net.