This Saturday, November 22, is the popular Christmas Greens Workshop where volunteers can help make fresh wreaths and sprays to decorate Historic Rugby for the holiday season. Volunteers are invited to come for all or any part of the day from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Rugby Community Room. Historic Rugby will be serving dessert and hot wassail, and helpers will be able to use the refrigerator if they want to bring their lunch. Rita Elliott says volunteers should bring hand clippers or pruning shears and work gloves. She is encouraging folks to bring their friends as they can use as many volunteers as they can get. If you can help, please call and let them know you are coming at 1-888-214-3400 or locally at 628-2441.
Other Volunteer Opportunities
Lavonne Gibbs says volunteers are also needed to help with Christmas at Rugby this year. She is helping Historic Rugby identify helpers in the Community Room and at Newbury House during the event. They need helpers for both December 6 and 13 from 4:00 to 9:00 pm. Lavonne says volunteers “do not need to be in historic dress but that or Christmas dress is a plus.” To volunteer, either call Amber Buck in the Historic Rugby office at 423-628-2441 or Lavonne Gibbs at 423-628-5678.
Bonfire Rescheduled
Lavonne also said that the bonfire, hot dog and marshmallow roast set the by Christ Church and Brewstertown Church of God for yesterday was cancelled due to cold weather. She says they will try to gather this Sunday, November 23 at 4:00 pm “if the weather is significantly better.” She says folks can check with her or Teresa Coker on Saturday or Sunday to see if the bonfire will happen.
Other Church News
Lavonne passed along this news from Father Peter Keese. A prayer quilt was tied and blessed for Hattie Fletcher on Sunday, November 16 at Christ Church. Linda Konig told several stories about Hattie’s life and work in Rugby.
Confirmation/Inquirers Class for people who would like to learn more about the Episcopal Church will begin this Sunday after the 11:00 am service and coffee time. Anyone is welcome to the class led by Father Peter Keese.
Folk Dancing
Lavonne Gibbs also reported that the Folk Dancing class taught by Mary Hemminger Saturday night with assistance from Bob Hemminger and Vi Biehl was accompanied by Tom Howell on flute with five other dancers joining the fun. Dancing will resume after the holidays with scheduled classes twice a month. Anyone with ideas about class times should contact Mary.
Wreaths and Sprays for Sale
Lavonne also said that the bonfire, hot dog and marshmallow roast set the by Christ Church and Brewstertown Church of God for yesterday was cancelled due to cold weather. She says they will try to gather this Sunday, November 23 at 4:00 pm “if the weather is significantly better.” She says folks can check with her or Teresa Coker on Saturday or Sunday to see if the bonfire will happen.
Other Church News
Lavonne passed along this news from Father Peter Keese. A prayer quilt was tied and blessed for Hattie Fletcher on Sunday, November 16 at Christ Church. Linda Konig told several stories about Hattie’s life and work in Rugby.
Confirmation/Inquirers Class for people who would like to learn more about the Episcopal Church will begin this Sunday after the 11:00 am service and coffee time. Anyone is welcome to the class led by Father Peter Keese.
Folk Dancing
Lavonne Gibbs also reported that the Folk Dancing class taught by Mary Hemminger Saturday night with assistance from Bob Hemminger and Vi Biehl was accompanied by Tom Howell on flute with five other dancers joining the fun. Dancing will resume after the holidays with scheduled classes twice a month. Anyone with ideas about class times should contact Mary.
Wreaths and Sprays for Sale
Rita Elliott is selling homemade wreaths and sprays again this year. They are made from fresh materials gathered locally and contained in wet moss to extend freshness. Wreaths are $40 and sprays are $30. For information or to place an order call Rita at 423-628-2622.
Open House at Shoppe at Zenith Cottage
There will be a Christmas Open House at the Shoppe at Zenith Cottage Friday, November 28 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Ron Jackson invites everyone to come see his selection of Christmas wreaths, arrangements, jewelry and other handmade gifts.
Thanksgiving Anyone?
Lavonne Gibbs says “if you are interested in a Thanksgiving Day sharing of meal and fellowship check with Lavonne Gibbs.”
There’s Always a Rugby Connection
I saw an amazing movie this week, called The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. It is about two eight year-old boys who meet across the barbed wire of a concentration camp in Germany during World War II. One of the boys is inside the barbed wire because he is Jewish, the other boy is outside the barbed wire and is the son of the Nazi camp commander. The movie is both touching in its portrayal of two innocent children trying to make sense of their situation and is a shocking portrayal of cruelty. I strongly recommend the movie to you.
Open House at Shoppe at Zenith Cottage
There will be a Christmas Open House at the Shoppe at Zenith Cottage Friday, November 28 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Ron Jackson invites everyone to come see his selection of Christmas wreaths, arrangements, jewelry and other handmade gifts.
Thanksgiving Anyone?
Lavonne Gibbs says “if you are interested in a Thanksgiving Day sharing of meal and fellowship check with Lavonne Gibbs.”
There’s Always a Rugby Connection
I saw an amazing movie this week, called The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. It is about two eight year-old boys who meet across the barbed wire of a concentration camp in Germany during World War II. One of the boys is inside the barbed wire because he is Jewish, the other boy is outside the barbed wire and is the son of the Nazi camp commander. The movie is both touching in its portrayal of two innocent children trying to make sense of their situation and is a shocking portrayal of cruelty. I strongly recommend the movie to you.
It just happened to be the same week that George Zepp found several shots of Dachau, the Nazi concentration camp, while going through some boxes from his late Uncle George Keen who spent many summers in Rugby visiting his grandmother at Walton Court. Army 1st Lt. William George Keen (1912-2007) took a Danish photojournalist to Dachau on Oct. 26, 1945 -- just months after the camp's April 29 liberation. Keen is shown touring inside the crematorium/gas chamber building in photos published Dec. 11, 1945 by the Danish magazine Billed-Bladet. However, Keen also took a few snapshots himself. The one here shows him and an unidentified woman standing in front of a Dachau building where war trials were held beginning in November that year for some of the 30,000 Germans held there after the camp's liberation. According to the Web site http://www.scrapbookpages.com/, 36 were sentenced to hang in the first military tribunal held, but only 28 of them were actually executed following the verdicts. Dachau was the only major Nazi concentration camp in the post-war American occupation zone in western Germany. American soldiers were encouraged to visit it after the war. Today it still gets many visitors from around the world and still has a museum documenting the atrocities that went on there.
Birthdays
November 17 - Cheryl Hodgkins
November 18 - Joe Beavon
November 19 - Fred Oliver
November 22 - Dave Dunaway
November 18 - Joe Beavon
November 19 - Fred Oliver
November 22 - Dave Dunaway
Calendar of Events
November 22 – Volunteer Greens Workshop – Learn how to make Christmas Wreaths and Sprays and help decorate Rugby for Christmas. 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Eastern
November 27 – Thanksgiving Day (Historic Rugby’s Café, Visitor’s Centre and Shops are closed for the holiday)
November 28 – Thanksgiving Marketplace – Friday after Thanksgiving, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Eastern – Tours of Historic Buildings, Victorian Santa & his “Reindeer” Dogs, Holiday Shopping and Craft Demonstrations, and Traditional British Cream Tea. Advanced Reservations Required for Traditional British Cream Tea only - call 888-214-3400 – seatings are at 1:30, 3:00 and 4:30 pm Eastern – tickets $16.00.
November 28 – Shoppe at Zenith Cottage, Christmas Open House, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Eastern
November 29 – Hike – The Big South Fork Chapter of TTA is leading a Saturday-after-Thanksgiving hike at the Burnt Mill Bridge Loop. 4.3 mile moderate hike with good views of the Clear Fork. Meet at Harrow Road Café at 1:30 p.m. Eastern to car pool or at the parking area on the west side of the new Burnt Mill Bridge at 2:00 pm Eastern. Register with hike leaders Tim or Lynn Takacs ttakacs@comcast.net or lynntakacs@comcast.net
November 28 – Shoppe at Zenith Cottage, Christmas Open House, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Eastern
November 29 – Hike – The Big South Fork Chapter of TTA is leading a Saturday-after-Thanksgiving hike at the Burnt Mill Bridge Loop. 4.3 mile moderate hike with good views of the Clear Fork. Meet at Harrow Road Café at 1:30 p.m. Eastern to car pool or at the parking area on the west side of the new Burnt Mill Bridge at 2:00 pm Eastern. Register with hike leaders Tim or Lynn Takacs ttakacs@comcast.net or lynntakacs@comcast.net
December 5 - A Victorian Christmas at Grey Gables - 7:00 pm Eastern, Hot Mulled Cider.....Holiday Eggnog and multiple course Christmas dinner with entertainment after dinner by the Cross Family Singers. $27.00 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Contact Bill and Linda Brooks Jones at 423-628-5252 or email greygablestn@highland.net
December 6 & 13 – Christmas at Historic Rugby. Event includes candle and lamplit visits to traditionally decorated historic buildings, hot wassail & caroling, actors presenting Rugby Christmas Past, seasonal music - $9 in advance, $10 at the door with students (high school or elementary) at $4, and HRI members $6. Traditional four-course dinner is extra by advance reservation only – 2 seatings $29 each, tax & gratuity included. Purchase event and dinner tickets at the Visitor Centre or call toll free 888-214-3400
December 20 – Rugby Chorus Christmas Performance at Christ Church – 7:30 pm EasternDecember 24 – Christmas Eve Service – 5:00 pm at Christ Church followed by a potluck in the Friendly House – everyone is invited
Exercise Group - Monday and Thursday at 9:00 am Eastern at the Friendly House
Quilters Group - Wed. and Sat. 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm Eastern at the Friendly House
Nature Notes by Linda Konig
Rated R for Sex & Violence
As most of you probably know, I'm particularly interested in nocturnal animals. I've recently learned about two of these -- the crayfish (crawfish, crawdaddy, etc.) and the queen snake. We have both in our area.
Crayfish mate in the fall. The males have grooves in their first pair of limbs on the underside of their abdomens. These are for putting milt onto the female. He flips the female onto her back and his milt flows down the grooves onto her abdomen where it sticks.
She goes into a burrow to lay her eggs, about 100 of them. These become fastened to her bristly swimmerets. There they come in contact with the milt and are fertilized. The eggs hatch next spring, when the tiny transparent babies cling to her.
They look like miniature adults and must go through several moltings as they grow. It takes them six hours to molt. First the chalky calcium salts in the old shell go back into its blood. The front part of its shell loosens and cracks. As the crayfish pushes upward, the "canopy" lifts up just like a jet plane's canopy. Then the crayfish emerges from its old armor.
It fasts and stays in hiding during this time. It's extremely vulnerable to predators, especially the queen snake, which can smell the newly molted crayfish. That's a handy trait for the snake. Its only food is soft crayfish.
As most of you probably know, I'm particularly interested in nocturnal animals. I've recently learned about two of these -- the crayfish (crawfish, crawdaddy, etc.) and the queen snake. We have both in our area.
Crayfish mate in the fall. The males have grooves in their first pair of limbs on the underside of their abdomens. These are for putting milt onto the female. He flips the female onto her back and his milt flows down the grooves onto her abdomen where it sticks.
She goes into a burrow to lay her eggs, about 100 of them. These become fastened to her bristly swimmerets. There they come in contact with the milt and are fertilized. The eggs hatch next spring, when the tiny transparent babies cling to her.
They look like miniature adults and must go through several moltings as they grow. It takes them six hours to molt. First the chalky calcium salts in the old shell go back into its blood. The front part of its shell loosens and cracks. As the crayfish pushes upward, the "canopy" lifts up just like a jet plane's canopy. Then the crayfish emerges from its old armor.
It fasts and stays in hiding during this time. It's extremely vulnerable to predators, especially the queen snake, which can smell the newly molted crayfish. That's a handy trait for the snake. Its only food is soft crayfish.
