Discover the answers to these questions – and learn a whole lot more – during a walking tour of Urbana’s Oak Dale Cemetery on Friday, October 22 and Saturday, October 23.

Led by historian John Bry, who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Historic Preservation from Southeast Missouri State University and a Master’s of Science in Historic Preservation from Ball State University, tour-goers will visit 5 private family mausoleums (including the Marshall, Brown/Murphy/Milligan, Weaver, Marvin and the Miller/Mosgrove families) and the former Receiving Vault to hear about history, locations and significant people who have touched Urbana and Champaign County.

There will be four walking tours each evening beginning at 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 7 p.m., and 8 p.m., and each tour will be limited to approximately 40 minutes each. The walking tour is not handicap-accessible and will require participants to wear comfortable shoes in order to walk carefully in grass and on asphalt. No pets are allowed to attend this event, and the tour will be well-lit but tour-goers are encouraged to bring flashlights.

Face masks are not required at this time, but the CCPA will adhere to any COVID-19 mandates in place at the time of the event. Tours allow 45 people to go at once; social distancing is encouraged. To secure yourself a spot, please go online at https://www.ccpapreserveohio.org/events.html to purchase tickets directly from the CCPA. Tickets are $10 each. Once purchased, tickets are non-refundable.
If you’d like to become a member of the CCPA or would like to donate in kind, please visit this website to learn more: https://www.ccpapreserveohio.org/.

VFW Post 5451 and DAV Chapter 31 are major partners with the DAR in this effort. Remember that there are many veteran graves with no family available to lay a wreath on their tombstone, so purchase 1, 2, or 3 wreaths for our volunteers to cover as many of those graves as possible.

It is during the holidays that our deployed servicemen and women miss home the most, and there are empty seats at family gatherings. And generally, it is during the holidays, when conflict and strife are replaced by charity and goodwill toward one another.

Participating in the “Wreaths Across America” program is an ideal that reminds us of all our deployed men and women who will not be home for the holidays, and our esteemed veterans who have already passed and have honored resting places in cemeteries across our land. Our mission is to “Remember, Honor, and Teach” by sharing the stories of these heroes and coming together to ensure each person is never forgotten.

Urbana Chapter DAR’s goal is to cover approximately 1,700 veterans graves in Oak Dale Cemetery with a fresh balsam wreath in memory of their service. You can help that happen. The cost of a wreath is $15. Wreath forms are available at the Champaign County Library, VFW Post 5451 and DAV Chapter 31, Chamber of Commerce, the Spotted Cow, the Depot, First Presbyterian Church office, the Champaign County Extension office, the Urbana Senior Center, and Café Paradiso.

Feel free to call Pat Detwiler at 937-465-4446 or 937-597-4446 for additional information. This year’s cut-off date for purchase is November 25.

Help us make this a banner year of gratefulness.

Smith is a professional freelance photographer specializing in commercial and fine art photography. Her artistic merit is evidenced in the fine portraiture she has produced, along with commissioned photography for national and regional media publications. Smith is an Ohio native, educated at Urbana University with private studies in photography and art.

The Run/Walk will proceed on the path around the 9/11 Memorial and the 5K participants will continue the run along High Street, through the Square and return on Main Street to Freedom Grove. The Alicia Peace Run/Walk will coincide with the event, “We Will Never Forget,” a 9/11 Remembrance, sponsored by the Rotary Club and coordinated by Jamie Shaffner and Craig Bennett, honoring 9/11 victims, military and first responders.

This will be the last scheduled Run for Peace. All are invited to support of the victims of 9/11, including Alicia, service men and women and first responders. Registration for the Run/Walk is online at: http://www.cantstoprunningco.com or in person from 8-8:50 a.m. at Freedom Grove. Live music and Kids for Peace activities will be held at Legacy Park on Monument Square afterwards, sponsored by the Alicia Titus Memorial Peace Fund.

On Sunday, September 12 from 3-5 p.m. at The Urbana Christian Conference Center – located at 1778 state Route 29 – the Alicia Titus Memorial Peace Fund will be hosting acclaimed spiritual leader, lecturer, New York Times best-selling author, 2020 U.S. presidential candidate and dear friend of the Titus family, Marianne Williamson.

“Marianne has graciously blessed us with her love and support since Alicia was killed,” Alicia’s parents said. “Her presence in our lives has helped us immensely throughout the past 20 years.” Bev and John will briefly reflect on their journey of grief and their efforts through the Alicia Titus Memorial Peace Fund to work towards a more just and peaceful world.

The World House Choir under the direction of Catherine Roma will sing seven songs chosen specifically for this 20th anniversary of 9/11. An interpreter for people with hearing loss will be present. Mayor Bill Bean will welcome attendees to Urbana, the 140th International City of Peace. Refreshments will be included after the event. Due to the rise in COVID cases, social distancing and masks are highly recommended. Seats can be reserved at www.eventbrite.com. For more information, email Bev Titus at bjtitus11@gmail.com.

The Champaign County Preservation Alliance has two events scheduled during the month of October for people of all ages!

Jill delivered a speech to the crowd talking about all that Jay and Kathy mean to her and to the community. She reminisced on years past and talked about how Marie’s Candies helped put our small village on the map. At the end of her speech, she had Jay and Kathy remove the cover on the street sign that now reads “King’s Way” honoring their family name and all they have done for the community. Everyone gathered for pictures, and Marie’s Candies provided refreshments for everyone in attendance.

In 1977 Jay and Kathy King became second generation owners of Marie’s Candies. They moved and restored the train depot that became the business’s retail space in 1996 and introduced many new candy options as well. Today, Marie’s Candies is in its third generation of owners, brother and sister, Shannon King and Rebecca Craig became co-owners in 2016.

Marie’s Candies has been a part of RCI since 1978. This is their third time hosting this event, having last hosted in 2013 and previously in 1999. The purpose of RCI is to connect chocolate and candy makers to help grow their businesses and Marie’s Candies contributes a lot of their success to being a part of the organization.

The tour was an inside look of how Marie’s Candies operates and gave information on everything from their candy making process to packaging and display creation. Everyone in attendance got the chance to sample four of Marie’s Candies items including: Lime Bon-Bons, Irish Potatoes, Chocolate Covered Grapes and Peanut Butter Meltaways.

Emmie King (no relation), a second-generation owner of Nandy’s Candy in Jackson, MS, was one of the confectioners in attendance. She said that one of the highlights of her day happened just before leaving “I was about to go, but stopped to talk with Mr. King, probably my biggest highlight. He carefully answered my questions about his temperature-controlled rooms and invited me to go check theirs out after exposing what makes them work so well. We are currently working on a smaller version at our shop.”

The way candy makers share their secrets with each other on these tours is what makes them so special. There is a sense of community, not competition, and everyone walks away from a convention week having learned something new with a renewed passion for what they do.

The project was spearheaded by two retired Mechanicsburg firefighters, Tim Shonkwiler and Phil McMahill. Both gentlemen donated their time, labor and materials along with guidance to see the project through.

Members of the Trainer family were joined by the Mechanicsburg Fire Department, area fire and law enforcement departments, along with several Mechanicsburg-area residents sharing in the solemn event to express heart-felt condolences and appreciation.

The inscription on the monument reads as follows:

“On July 24, 2007 our brother Jon C. Trainer answered his last alarm. Jon grew up in Mechanicsburg and followed the family tradition of community service, dedicating his time and soul to the protection of others. In 2011 the Mechanicsburg Fire Department was named Station 30 in honor of Jon’s unit number. Today, July 24th 2021, the 14th anniversary of his sacrifice, we gather as a community to honor Jon’s memory and loss. He is gone from our sight but forever in our hearts."