Photo by R.R. Best
Gingerbread houses are a tradition with Nina Martin of Sullivan, and she uses that tradition to help support The Little Theatre on the Square. Above Chef Regina Johnson presented Phillip and Nina Martin with their annual gingerbread creation on Dec. 7.

•December 12, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Our story begins with Nina Martin’s favorite Christmas memories of the beautiful gingerbread houses her mother, Roberta Tabor, made from scratch every year – no two of which were ever alike.
The gingerbread houses were famous and graced the front page of the Sullivan newspaper each Christmas season.
On Sunday, Dec. 9 Phillip and Nina Martin hosted a benefit for the Little Theatre on the Square in their home featuring this year’s gingerbread creation.
While the Sullivan High School Madrigal Singers performed in the living room, the star in the dining room was the enchanting gingerbread Santa’s workshop which elicited many expressions of delight.
As part of her holiday decorations Nina has always ordered an original centerpiece creation for her dining room table. Her special muse for many of these creations has been bakery chef, Regina Johnson of RegCakes, who loves nothing more than “to take raw ingredients and create something unusual and special.”
In the past Johnson has created medieval castles and Harry Potter themed structures, but this year Nina wanted a gingerbread Santa’s workshop with an ice- skating scene and a fire pit for making s’mores.
This holiday season masterpiece is a lovely little house with a red icing roof featuring Santa’s office, a loading place and a portico for the sleigh. There are skylights, and the back has been cut away to expose the interior which is illuminated with tiny blinking lights. Santa is relaxing in his easy chair. The outside chimney is made of jelly bellies.
The skating pond rotates and is surrounded by gingerbread trees and a bridge. The fire pit has gingerbread children roasting the tiniest marshmallows. Everything is edible except for the platform, the lake and the tiny wire roasting forks. Johnson made nine batches of cookie dough for the entire scene. Read More

•November 28, 2018•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

“Early detection matters! That is the most important phrase to remember when it comes to Alzheimer’s Disease.” Elizabeth Hagemann, Manager of Education and Outreach for the Alzheimer’s Association, Illinois chapter, stressed this point at the November 15 Caring Conversations Series dinner held at the Best Western Hotel Plus in Arcola.
Her presentation, “Forget Me Not: Conversations About the Stages of Dementia and Alzheimer’s” focused on many informative details about the disease and those who have already been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. An estimated 5.7 million Americans are living with the disease and by the year 2050, the number is projected to rise to 14 million. Every 65 seconds someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s (http://www.alz.org). Read More

•November 21, 2018•

Lovington Elementary School celebrated Illinois Bicentennial recently by taking a trip back in time when Native Americans danced their stories.
Junior high social studies teacher Chris Davis and first grade teacher Vickie Newberry started working on the day long observance of the state’s 200th birthday in August, and on Friday, Nov. 9 it all came together.
Students learned of the early Native American culture, about the animals of Illinois from the Douglas Hart Nature Center of Mattoon, fur trading in pioneer life, bow making and topped off with a visit from Abraham Lincoln.
In the morning program Kaskaskia River Dancers Brandon Helm and Matt Clayton dressed in full Cherokee regalia explained that Native Americans told their stories through dance. Read More

Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Veterans recognized at Senior Center observance.

•November 21, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

The Senior Center ceiling was a sea of swag in patriotic colors of red, white and blue with the tables in matching tablecloths and place mats to welcome veterans to a complimentary lunch on Nov. 13. Each veteran and guest received a treat box filled with cookies and candies as well as a ticket for the drawing for a patriotic quilt.
Pre-luncheon entertainment was provided by Ellen Ferrera who performed piano arrangements of the theme songs for each of the armed forces including “The Navy Hymn” and “America the Beautiful”.
The luncheon was sponsored by Peace Meal and Reva Martin, Supervisor of the Peace Meal at the Senior Center, welcomed the veterans and their spouses. She remarked that, “we are so honored to be able to thank our veterans with this special meal and share this day with them.” Read More