Nothing but good news and good people doing great things

from the Arlington, Cherry, Ladd, Seatonville/Hollowayville, Spring Valley, and Dalzell area

A John the Barber Foundation Publication

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St. Thomas More Dalzell Famous Tortellini

Fund Raiser Back Into Full Swing!

Stop
focusing on
how
Stressed
you are and
remember
how
Blessed
you are!

Members at St. Thomas More Dalzell are hard at it, again producing their famous tortellini as part of a holiday season fund raising effort. Current and previous residents
of Ravioli Alley know how great they are. Whether prepared with sauce or in
broth, they are awesome! Hats off to St. Thomas More members and their other
friends for putting in all the work to get them made! The effort will continue through
January. Those interested in placing an order can call 815.664.4615.

100+ Years Later, Its Time for More to Know

about Unknown Hero of the Cherry Mine Disaster

They were many highly

recognized and honored
heroes involved in the
Cherry Mine Disaster.
Of course the twelve men
who gave their lives on the
heroes rescue cage all
received the Carnegie
Medal for heroism and
national notoriety, as did
some men who lead the 8
day men to their rescue.
There were others who
were well noted in
newspaper accounts of the
time for their efforts during
the relief efforts and
aftermath. John John the

Barber Stenstrom himself

of course is now more
widely known for all that he
did at that time. Still, the
heroic efforts of one man
were not widely discussed
until now, over 100 years
later! Olie Freeburg was the
third vein cager at the air
shaft. Many stated that
they saw him remaining at
his post, helping men from
the third vein make their
way up to the second vein.
In fact, it was Olie who
helped use a hose to put out
the burning car of hay that
had been dropped from the

second to the third vein in

the earlier minutes of the
fire. Obviously Olie
sacrificed himself working
to save others, waiting to
make his own escape until it
was too late. Unmarried,
his body was identified by a
local shopkeeper. The
photo above is of his burial
on the west side of the
Cherry cemetery. Olie lies
there today in an unmarked
grave. What a great
example of a good person
doing great things!

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Dont Forget:
Cherry United Church of
Christ/Holy Trinity Cherry
Pie & Coffee Social Hour,
first Thursday
of each month.
1:30 3:30
at Cherry Church Hall.
Bring a friend!

Hollowayville UCC
Tuesday December 3, 2013
Members of Ladies Aid will
have Christmas gathering
at 11:30 a.m. If interested
call Jane 815.447.2877
Sunday Dec 15, 2013,
Sunday School will have a
Birthday Party for Jesus
following Sunday Service.

Spring Valley UCC

Saturday Dec 7th @
8:00 a.m.
Annual Cookie Walk

Father Kevin did a lot of great things

Heard a great little story about Father Kevin Gorman recently.
As many of you know, Father Kevin was very a famous teacher,
athletic director and mentor at St. Bede and also was pastor at
St. Patricks Arlington and Holy Trinity Cherry for several years.
A former student of his related the following story. We were
playing a game on the road and Father Kevin was driving the
bus. After the game, someone from overly excited crowd surrounding our bus tossed a soda can in the window of the bus
striking someone. Another kid on our team tossed the can back out the window.
Father Kevin had only seen what our student had done. He came to the back of the
bus and disciplined him terribly in front of all of us. Father Kevin went outside and
apologized to the crowd (can you imagine?). Driving us back to St. Bede, Father
Kevin, obviously upset, was approached by someone from his staff who explained
what had really happened. Father suddenly pulled off the road at a gas station and
went inside. He returned to the back of the bus and put his hand on the students
shoulder and gave him a Coke.

Christmas Mass/Services Schedule for Ravioli Alley Churches

Arlington St. Patricks
Cherry Holy Trinity

Seatonville
Congregational
Church

Cherry United Church of Christ

Dalzell St. Thomas More
Hollowayville United Church of Christ

Sunday Dec 8, 2013 6:00

p.m. Alternative Worship
Gathering featuring
highly acclaimed folk/
gospel/duet ALATHEA

Seatonville Congregational Church

Spring Valley United Church of Christ
Spring Valley Nativity of our Lord

from Tennessee. ALATHEA

will be leading worship and
Christian concert
afterwards!
acebook.com/
secondsunday.seatonville

Christmas Eve 10:00 p.m.

*Christmas Eve 4:00 p.m.*
Christmas Day 10:00 a.m.
Christmas Day 8:15 a.m.
Christmas Day 8:00 a.m.
Christmas Eve 7:00 p.m.
Christmas Eve 7:00 p.m.
Christmas Eve 7:00 p.m.
Christmas Eve 4:00 p.m. (Mautino Drive)
Christmas Eve 5:30 p.m.(Greenwood St.)
Christmas Day 9:00 a.m. (Mautino Drive)

*Cherry Holy Trinity Christmas Eve 4:00 Overflow: As was the case last year, overflow
from the 4:00 mass can watch the mass LIVE at the Cherry Church Hall.
Communion, collection, etc. Over 100 attended there last year.

Hey parents and grandparents!

Sign up the kids for St. Pats Arlington/Holy Trinity Cherry
2013-14 Religious Youth Education!
You are doing a great job ensuring that your kids and grandkids physical, social, and educational health is in
good shape. Dont forget their spiritual health! All faiths welcome. Classes on Sunday mornings. Please email
or call Julie at [email protected] /815.894.2006 (mornings Tuesday Friday) to register your child.
www.CherryHolyTrinity.org

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Great comments received about Up Ravioli Alley

Thanks for all you guys are doing. We pass it around the nursing home and
everyone enjoys it.
Thanks John the Barber. I cant tell you how much it means to me to be able to keep in touch
on whats going on there in Ravioli Alley. Its like Ive never left except its 48 years later.
Keep up the good work. Nice publication.
Pete Pranzini, San Jose, California
I enjoy the newsletter very much. Keep up the good work and God bless you!

Lous LaGrotto makes Ravioli Alley Proud with much needed

Delivery of fresh Pizzas to Tornado Ravaged Washington, IL
Merry Noonan of Lous LaGrotto and her team were really Good People Doing Great Things when they
pulled together to deliver a truck load of fresh pizzas to the folks in Washington, IL who had just been hit by a
terrible tornado. Team members Allison Nichols and Adam Stuart made the super special delivery. Drop Merry
and Lou LaGrotto a note or Like them on their Facebook page and tell them how much we appreciate all
they do!

Leader in the Making! Jake Merkel of Ladd receives Hall High HOBY
Jake Merkel, of Ladd, is the recipient of the 20132014 Hall High Hugh OBrien Youth Association
HOBY award. The award recognizes students with
strong leadership potential and is exclusively for high
school sophomores. Jake will attend a three-day

seminar this summer at the University of Illinois and

interact with other HOBY award winners. He was
selected by his faculty and peers for the honor. He is
the son of Shelli and Mark Merkel. Way to go Jake!
(Way to go Shelli and Mark!)

CORRECTION Ladd is NOT lying about their age!

We made a typo in the November issue. The 50/50 drawing for the Ladd 125 th Committee will be drawn June
7, 2014 which is Ladds 124th anniversary. The funds will be used for Ladds 125 th Anniversary in 2015. Each
month Up Ravioli Alley will update you on what the grand prize amount $ is building to. Again, Tickets now
available at North Central Bank, Special Effect Barber/Beauty Salon, A Vintage Venue, Softtails Bar and Grill,
and the Ladd Village Clerks Office. Really, to tell you the truth, we dont think Ladd looks a day over 110!

St. Patricks Arlington Asking you to share a family secret (recipe)

St. Patricks Arlington is collecting recipes for their 2014 Parish Sesquicentennial recipe book. They are in
need of them by December 15, 2013. The recipe form is available in the back of the church or on-line at the
joint parish web site www.CherryHolyTrinity.org. St. Pats appreciates any recipes submitted from outside the
parish as well. Recipe books will be for sale this coming spring.

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Ladd 125th Committee Presents

Legacy Girls March 30, 2014:
A couple tickets would make a great Christmas stocking stuffer!
The Ladd 125th Committee will present "Legacy Girls" with proceeds from the event
going to the 125th anniversary effort. Their performance will be on Saturday March
30, 2014 at the Ladd Grade School Gymnasium from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. From the Chicagoland area, the three Legacy Girls originally met singing at church.
They formed their group in 2006 primarily honoring the Andrews Sisters but have
since expanded to other musical selections from the 40s 60s.
To learn more about the Legacy Girls, check them out at www.LegacyGirls.com.
Pre-event tickets are $10 and available that day at the door for $12.
For more information call Sandy Galetti at 815.894.2954.

Holy Trinity Cherry On-Line Mass Handy for Senior,

Shut-ins During Winter Months
Holy Trinity Cherry masses are available to watch LIVE or recorded over the
Internet at www.CherryHolyTrinity.org. A number of people have thoughtfully
set this up for various senior and shut ins so that they can comfortably watch the
mass from their home. There are regular viewers in Ravioli Alley and outside
the area including Peoria, Rockford, and Joliet. Do a little something great and
set this up for your senior/shut-in friends.

Christmas in Cherry,
Please send on this to
former 'Ravioli Alley' folks
who have left the area.
Get us their email address
and we will email to them
every month!

Sunday December 1st. Check it out!

Hope this issue hits the street in time for you to get this and to attend. Lots to do
all day in Cherry, Sunday December 1, 2013. Lot of fun and fellowship going on all
day including: vendor fair at the grade school, Holy Trinity bake sale, raffles, bingo,
grand parade (begins at 11:00 a.m.), State Bank of Cherry open house, special
luncheons at Brunos and JTs, cookies/punch/photos with Santa sponsored by
Cherry Booster Club, Magic by Cory (1:00), Cherry Library Open House, Cherry
Country Store crafts/hot cocoa, Furry Friends Petting Zoo, Cherry United Church of
Christ New to You sale, special Snowmen on Display designed by Cherry Grade
School students (you need to see this!)

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Lady Bruins Volleyball Aids St. Margarets Hospital Breast Cancer Efforts
In their game against Princeton October 15, 2015, the St. Bede Girls Volleyball team held a Pink Night to benefit
the St. Margarets Hospital Breast Cancer awareness efforts. Through a combination of shirt sales and raffles and
with the assistance of the St. Bede cheerleaders and the Princeton Lady Tigers, the event raised a total of $1,200.

Giving Goodness Baskets from Hall Township Food Pantry:

A Great Way for you to make a needy familys Christmas bright!
The Hall Township Food Pantry is holding a Giving Goodness Baskets Christmas fundraiser now through December 15, 2015. The effort will see the food pantry distributing Christmas Dinner Baskets to needy families. Donations are $35 for each basket. If you, your family, or your organization would like to donate one or more baskets to
needy families in Hall township, please send you check made out to Project Success to Hall Township Food Pantry, 500 N. Terry St. Spring Valley, IL 61362. If you have questions please call 815.663.2085. Heres a little way to
do something great during the Christmas season!

Heres a few quick Rav-notes...

Kevin Barkley of Dalzell, co-founder of Illinois Valley Historical Research and Recovery Association, recently found
a 1976 Depue High School class ring and returned it to it original owner Nancy Linquist. You da man Kevin!
Thanks!
Chuck Ceccacci of Flowery Branch, Georgia stopped by Ladd Grade School recently to show off his Ride of Pride
semi truck. Chuck, a US Marine Corp veteran presents to school kids across the country on the subject of honoring our countrys veterans.
Jason Brokaw of Cherry was recently promoted to the rank of sergeant by the city of Peru Board of Fire and Police
Commissioners. Jason is a 17-year law enforcement veteran. Next time you see Jason, shake his hand and say
congratulations and thanks!
Sorry to hear of the passing of Brian Kohr recently. Brian served two tours of duty in Afghanistan and has most
recently been serving at the LaSalle Veterans Home. He is the grandson of Joyce and Bill Kohr of Cherry. Thank
you Brian for all you have done for us.
Hats off to Kathy /Gerry Bonucchi, the Pinter family, Angie Raef (and anyone else we missed) for their great work
create beautiful painted, wooden snowmen for every child at Cherry Grade School. They will be displayed all over
town for the Christmas in Cherry event Sunday, Dec 1, 2013. Children get to take them home after the
event. Great job everyone!

Do Something Great Be a 1%er for your local organization

A survey of local organizations confirms a common cynereo. If an organization has 100 members, approximately 15
are generally active and 2-3 do most of the heaving lifting. As a goal for 2014, we encourage you to move up the
food chain. If you are generally inactive in your organization try to move up to help out on a regular basis.
If you are generally active, work to step up and be a leader, mentor to the others.
Whether your church asks or not volunteer to be added to the reader, greeter, usher, eucheristic minister call list.
Make it a goal to do a little something great in 2014!

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Ladd Christmas Walk, Light up the Holidays,

Saturday Dec 7, 2013
You're invited to join in the 2013 Ladd Christmas Walk "Light Up the Holidays" from
3:00 to 7:00pm on Saturday, December 7th. Activities planned include horse drawn
wagon rides, a storyteller, musicians, carolers, Snowman Parade at 5:00pm, lighting
contest with maps of Ladd's "lighted houses", bake sale, kid's crafts and face painting,
food stands selling popcorn, hot chocolate, smores, hot dogs, brats, roasted nuts,
etc., local artisans and gifts, ornament making, pictures with Santa, door prizes, bell
ringers, a mailbox for letters to the North Pole, a Christmas greenery sale, and Grace
the white-tailed deer. In addition, 125th Anniversary items will be offered for sale at
the Village Hall. Call (815) 894-2092 or email [email protected] for more information or to share your ideas.

We need your input for Up Ravioli Alley!

Folks from all over Ravioli Alley are saying we want more!
Well.you can help us!
Please send us your stories on good people doing great things.
Also send us information on upcoming events your non-for-profit group is having.
Dont be bashful.now is also your chance to ask for help.
what does your organization need?
Please drop in the US mail or email to [email protected].

Keep that Ravioli Alley Alumni contact information coming!

Wow! Thanks to everyone for sending contact info for Ravioli Alley Alumni
(people who are originally from Ravioli Alley who are living somewhere else).
Please continue to send their email address and/or U.S. mailing address.
One reader wrote I mailed on the last issue to my out-of-state friends and they
loved it. Please email that contact info to [email protected]
or via U.S. mail JTB Foundation, Box 88, Cherry, IL 61317.

John The Barber Foundation Lends Helping Hand at

Ladd Christmas Walk on Saturday, December 7th.
The John the Barber Foundation is lending a helping hand at the Ladd Christmas Walk,
Saturday December 7, 2013, filling an open spot at Dimond Bros. Insurance Agency,
123 South Main. Proceeds from the bake sale will go to the Ladd 125 th Anniversary
Event Fund. If anyone would like to donate baked goods that day, staff will be there
beginning at noon. Please remember to ask JTB for help when you need it!

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What a profound message from the 1952 Hall High yearbook!

What was said then is just as true today 60 years later.
We learn the fundamentals of good living at home through
the family circle and through our relationships.

Positive Examples Changed Ebenezer Scrooge Not Scary Ghosts

(Borrowed from an old friends school paper)
present. True the Ghost of Christmas Future was frightening, but in
the end was it really his scary message and manarisms that really did
the trick? True, he likely did complete the task of getting Ebenezer to
wake up and change. Still, its interesting to note that most of the
night was spent witnessing the many
examples of good people doing
great things from his past and during
his present. In his past he witnessed
the goodness of his beloved sister
Fannie and his first love Belle. His
heart raced like a school boy when
revisiting the Christ-like action of his
first boss Fezziwig and his early work
friends. In the present the charitable
men who approach him give him a

strong example of Christ-like actions

in his business world. While the
crowd at his home second guess him,
Scrooges nephew Fred forgives his
Uncle Scrooge for all his many misgivings and toasts to him a Merry
Christmas! Even Bob Cratchet, who
Scrooge likely treats worse than anyone of all, forgives Scrooge and expresses to his family that they should
all be thankful to Mr. Scrooge this
Christmas. On that magical Christmas
morning Scrooge is not stressed in
figuring out exactly what he needs to
do and how he needs to act.
Throughout the day he is simply mimicking the Christ-like actions that have
been presented as examples to him
his entire life.

The John the Barber Foundation

Box 88
Cherry, IL 61317

The old joke goes for some three

ghosts would have to visit him some
Christmas night to get him to
change. The gist is that it took three
ghosts to scare Ebenezer Scrooge into
changing and it would take three
more to change whomever we are
talking about. Its interesting to realize though that there actually werent
three scary ghosts who called on
Ebenezer and it wasnt just the fright
of them that caused him to change.
Two of the ghosts where friendly or
at least non-threatening. The Ghost
of Christmas Past showed Ebenezer
mostly happy memories from the his
past. The Ghost of Christmas Present calmly showed him the good
and bad of what was going on in the

PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE
PAID
CHERRY, IL
61317
PERMIT NO. 23