Issue 1258

Nov. 23, 2023

Happy Thanksgiving

The Christmas lights are turned on from dusk to dawn at the free drive-thru Winter Wonderland in Brookville, Indiana. It’s beautiful. Tune in Christmas music (FM 87.9) on your car radio. Enter from Fairfield Avenue by the American Legion Post or from the east end at 8th Street.

Try a daytime drive to see the ornaments and the names of the tree sponsors.

Winter Wonderland 2023 Golf Cart Parade Winners

On Saturday, November 18, a golf cart parade celebrated the opening of the Winter Wonderland in the Brookville Town Park. The Brookville Volunteer Fire Department drove Santa in the first vehicle.

1st place was awarded to Joy and Brian Baxter for their gingerbread house on wheels.

2nd place went to Ronnie Reams and Ashlyn Sacksteder of Brookville with their nutcracker theme.

3rd place was awarded to the Grinch - Jill and Randy Shiflett of Brookville.

Another clever entry was by Cindy and Roy Hall with a theme of Whoville. Their grandson Grayson Hall was the “Mayor” of Whoville.

Old-fashioned Christmas in Metamora

Historic Metamora's buildings and bridges are beautifully decorated for Christmas. About 200 people attended the annual night time tree lighting ceremony on November 18. They enjoyed homemade cookies and hot chocolate, a sing-a-long of Christmas carols and a visit from Santa. The event ended with the tree lighting.

The Christmas lights will be lit for Metamora’s Christmas Walk beginning November 24 and continuing through December 17. Hours are Fridays and Saturdays 10 am to 10 pm and Sundays 12 pm to 5 pm.

November Noel

Photo: Santa with children from the Marsh and Wade Families at November Noel. 

This was a free family event on Saturday, November 18, sponsored by Main Street Brookville, Inc. with the support of Stay’in Alive, Imagination Library, 4-H, Brookville Kiwanis, Pioneer Restaurant and other individuals and businesses. Vogt Farm of Batesville provided free carriage rides around the courthouse square.

Imagination Library volunteer David Willhelm gave away bookmarks. The mugs were from Stayin’ Alive. Pioneer Restaurant volunteers did face painting.

Main Street Brookville volunteer Anita Hrivnak helped children make free necklaces or bead bracelets at November Noel.

Holiday Event Reporting by Sara Duffy



Correction

"School Closures Discussed": Mt. Carmel Elementary School Principal Beth Lake said that some families in her school would not send their children to Brookville, because the parents work in Cincinnati and they can easily travel on I-74 to North Dearborn schools. One of her other remarks was sarcasm about another person’s comment and was not Ms. Lake's viewpoint.



News From American Legion Post 77

 Korean War Veteran Corporal Thomas Mahaffey was recently honored with the Veteran Challenge coin and Veteran pin by Veteran Service Officer Sam Wyatt and American Legion Post 77 Adjutant Faith Jones. Post 77 is proud to be part of the Margaret Mary Hospice program.  

American Legion Post 77, which is the Chartered Organization for Boy Scout Troop 45, is proud to announce that we have two new Eagle Scouts. Lendon Sizemore and Spencer Bath received this prestigious award at the American Legion. Both young men received their Eagle Scout Pins, and other awards from the Marine Corp as well as The Ladies Auxiliary, the Son's of the American Legion and the Legionnaire's. Post 77 is honored and proud to be a part of this troop. Congratulations to these young men. 

Submitted by Faith Jones

Submitted by Kelly Bulmer



USDA Reminds Franklin County Farmers to Vote

in Franklin County Committee Election

December 4 is the Last Day to Return Ballots

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has mailed ballots for the Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committee elections to eligible farmers and ranchers across the country. To be counted, ballots must be returned to the Franklin County FSA office or postmarked by December 4, 2023. 

Submitted by Angie Stuehrenberg

Around the County

 Acoustic Final Friday - Nov. 24

To help you recover from your turkey day food coma, there is one more Final Friday, on Nov. 24. Head out to the Opry Barn and show us what you can do. Or just come and listen to everyone else. Doors at 6, music starts at 6:30. Food by Tracey Pennington & Friends.

Submitted by Metamora Performing Arts

Cookie Crumb Trail in Brookville - Dec. 1 & 2

Friday and Saturday. Over 25 businesses in Brookville will be sharing a cookie if you stop to see them. Hot Chocolate Bar too! For a $10 donation, the cookie trail passport will give the names and the hours of the participating businesses throughout Brookville. Proceeds support Stayin’ Alive.

Holiday Under the Spires - December 2

The all-day schedule of event starts with breakfast with Santa at 8 am at Knights of St. John and ends with a Christmas Concert at 6:30 pm at Oldenburg Academy. Click for the schedule.

Holiday Historical Home Tour in Brookville - Dec. 9

1 pm - 4 pm. Buy tickets $25 online.

Submitted by Margaret Mary Health & Stayin' Alive

Mt. Carmel School 2023 Winter Craft Show

Saturday, December 9, 10:00 - 3:00

Cookies with Santa 11-1

6178 Johnson Fork Rd, Cedar Grove, IN 47016.



Click to see vendor setup information. Spaces cost $25 each. All proceeds from this event will benefit Mt. Carmel School. If you have questions, or for more information, please call or email: mcs.apples@gmail.com or Brittany Westerfeld (812) 212-8645. Sponsored by The MCS APPLES.

Submitted by Brittany Westerfeld

Southeast Indiana Health Center - Free Clinic

We provide No-Cost, primary care services to residents of Franklin or Ripley County, Indiana on Tuesdays at our permanent location in Batesville and on Thursdays in our mobile clinic. No appointment needed. Call 812-932-4515 for times and locations.

1st Thursday of the month Brookville

2nd Thursday Versailles

3rd Thursday Laurel

4th Thursday Milan

Submitted by Bev Metze

Redlife Food Bank in Brookville 

Open every second and fourth Thursday from 4 pm - 6 pm and the third Saturday from 10 am - 12 noon. Please bring your own containers.

Submitted by Judy Drake



The Franklin County Observer is a free news service. At the Observer, we focus our coverage on events and meetings in Franklin County.

Our volunteer staff writers are all Franklin County residents who are committed to factual, impartial news reporting.

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