By Joyce Porter and Patsy Roberts
I hope everyone has been enjoying this cool summer weather. Sam Keen wrote “Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability”. Sunday was a great day to relax and enjoy our many blessings. We hope you are enjoying vacations and visiting with family and friends during these lovely summer days.
The 2026 Winchester Homecoming Festival has been busy with preparations for this year. We are celebrating America’s 250th anniversary with a special program on Saturday and during our historical ghost ride. We begin with our American history and honor those who fought for our freedom. Festival committee members have duck dump tickets, $2 per ticket, if you want to purchase in advance. The brochure with all the events is posted on Facebook and copies are in the Post Office and local businesses. We accept donations for this year’s festival. If you would like to donate money or raffle items, please let me or a member of the festival know. Thank you.
Continued healing prayers are needed this week for Jeff Copas, Tom and Wilma Breeze, and Joe Spurlock. There are other unnamed prayer needs.
I was saddened to hear about the death of Ernie (Brammer) Holcomb who passed away last week. She worked with both Dr. Jee and Dr. Shukla for many years. Two of her dear friends, Kay Cofer and Len Stapleton, also recently passed away. Prayers are extended to her family and friends.
Our next Back-to-School Day is Saturday, August 8, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. We have clothing but are focusing on shoes, socks and underwear for kids returning to school. W3CU food and clothing pantry hours are normally 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. on the third Thursday each month. The next regular pantry day is August 20. If you are unable to come on our regular Thursday for Compassion Closet, please call the church at (937) 695-0025 to schedule an appointment. Clothing donations can be brought in on Tuesday mornings, 9 – 11 a.m. Stop by around 3:30 p.m. on pantry day if you can assist in serving. Please check our Compassion Closet Facebook page for updates.
The next Winchester Village Council meeting is on Wednesday, August 11 at 7 p.m. The meetings are open to the public, and everyone is invited to attend. If you have an agenda item, call Ashley in the Town Hall (937-695-0880) before 3 p.m. the Friday before the meeting.
Winchester’s Past (Patsy Roberts): Continuing with Florence Bryson. She searched for her family’s history for years and was very proud of her ancestors. Starting on her Mother’s side, Clara Handrehan, her parents were Philip Handrehan (1846-1926) and Mary Ellen Rea (1854-1921). Clara graduated from the Winchester High School in 1900 and was a telephone operator until she married in 1917. Mary Ellen was the daughter of Joseph Rea (1825 OH- 1899 Oregon) and Matilida Russell (1825 OH-1876 Winchester). Matilda’s parents were John Russell (1781 PA-1846 OH) and Elizabeth Mansfield (1787 PA-1869 OH). Philip Handrehan was born in Ireland and bought to America by his parents Richard (1809-1854) and Anatasia Fogarty (1811-1854) when he was less than one year old. The family settled in Buffalo, New York, where his parents died of cholera in 1855, leaving three orphaned children, Edward, Philip and John. Will be continuing with Philip
If you have news or events you would like to have included in the paper, please let me know.
Information is due by Sunday evening and can be sent by calling (937) 205-2309 (leave a message) or by email at [email protected].