The Rhinelander Daily News - Online news and information for the Rhinelander, Wisconsin region

(Hiles News) - Can you believe how quickly the leaves turned and so many of them have fallen already? There will still be some color left from the popples and oaks, but the brightest reds and oranges of the maples have hit the ground. There are bound to be more good weather days to finish up fall yard work, too, but don't wait too long - we all know that cold and snow will follow in a few weeks. And we all know just how fast time goes whizzing by. Or is that just a sign of old age?

Fire Prevention Week

The Hiles Fire Department reminds you that this week (October 7-13) is National Fire Prevention Week.

Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, the tragic 1871 conflagration that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire began on October 8, but continued into and did most of its damage on October 9, 1871.

According to popular legend, the fire broke out after a cow belonging to Mrs. Catherine O'Leary kicked over a lamp, setting first the barn, then the whole city on fire. Chances are you've heard some version of this story yourself; people have been blaming the Great Chicago Fire on the cow and Mrs. O'Leary, for more than 130 years. But recent research by Chicago historian Robert Cromie has helped to debunk this version of events.

The theme of 2007 Fire Prevention Week is ‘Practice Your Escape Plan.' The important elements of a family escape plan include:

� having a plan

� everybody knowing the plan

� two escape routes from each room

� having a pre-arranged outside meeting place

� doing a headcount

� calling 911 from a neighbor house

� not going back inside

� practicing your plan

Other items that you should consider include:

� sleeping with bedroom doors closed

� smoke alarms - one on each level and in each bedroom

� staying low - feel door - if hot do hot open

All fire departments are concerned about the safety of you and your family.

Harvest Dinner Success

Over a hundred people enjoyed the saurkraut, sausage and pie dinner at the Hiles town hall at the end of September. Many of them asked if this could be an annual event, and the Service Club is hoping that it will be.

The food and friendliness were enjoyed by everyone present. The Service Club raffled off a few nice items, including a handmade fall themed quilt donated by Barbara Stanislawski, framed photos by Karl Guth, painted items by Pat Pfeiffer, a colorful fall centerpiece by Marilyn Pfeiffer and a framed wildlife print. The Club raised $145, of which $50 was donated to the Playground Committee. The Playground Committee also had its own raffles featuring a wooden planter donated by Pat Votis, a wooden trash can cover made by Brian Bukovic and a hand painted sweatshirt by Betty Hozan. The Fire Department also raffled off a Hiles Fire Department throw. After the raffle prizes were distributed, names were also drawn for the lovely fall table decorations made and donated by Marilyn Pfeiffer. Glen Votis was also a winner in the fifty/fifty cash drawing.

A lot of happy people went home with nice prizes, but one fellow earned a new nickname, “Lucky” by winning several of the prizes. The Service Club also received a $50 donation. Folks are already planning things to make and/or donate for next year's Harvest Dinner, so it seems like the idea of making it an annual celebration is a popular one.

Service Club Meets

Last Thursday the Service Club held its monthly meeting, where it was learned that the first collection of aluminum cans to be donated to the Playground Committee for a year netted the group $264.

Don't forget to save your beer and soda cans for the collection site next to the playground down by the town garage. This year's proceeds will be going to provide a nicer safer place for the kids to play.

Scarecrow Yard Decorating Contest

The Hiles Service Club is encouraging people to turn the town of Hiles into an interesting place to drive through this fall with a contest. The theme is “Scarecrows”, and anyone wishing to be considered for one of the money prizes should contact either Fran Pfeiffer at 649-3178 or Margaret McCarthy at 649-3227 to let them know you want the judges to view your yard display. Judging will take place on October 25, so be sure to call one of those ladies by October 24 so they will put your yard display on the list to be viewed by the judges.

See Hiles, Page 8

The displays must be visible from the road (Highway, town or Forest Service road). The judges will not drive into anyone's private driveway to view them. The prizes will be $25 for first prize, $15 for second, and $10 for third. Winners will be announced in the Hiles News.

Other topics under discussion at the October Service Club meeting were the possibility of buying or making seasonal banners to display on the light poles for this winter, combining the tree lighting night with the Fire Department's Christmas Dinner, and a flea market for next June.

One of the main purposes of the Hiles Service Club is to serve the town of Hiles by promoting a feeling of pride and community spirit. This is a good friendly group to be a part of, and it's membership is growing, but there is always room for more of you to join. The dues are only a dollar per year, mainly as a means to keep track of who the members are. If you'd like to join this group, just be at their meetings which are held on the first Thursday of each month, at 1 p.m. at the Hiles Museum at the town hall.

Red Hatters Plan for Fun

The Red Hatters met Thursday evening at Pine Lake Pub. The group discussed their next outing, a dinner theater afternoon in Hazelhurst. They also talked over a possible trip to a local planetarium for November's event with lunch, of course, at a popular eating spot. The hostesses for October are Maggie Kasten and Judy Foltz. The ladies signed up for the dinner theater trip should meet at Pine Lake Pub by 10:15 a.m. On Thursday, October 18, to carpool and leave by 10:30. More details about November's trip will be available by then, too, and the November regular meeting may be canceled. If you want to find out about the November trip, you can call November's hostesses Darlene Wolf at 649-3234 or Sally Ketterer at 649-3607 after October 18.

Money was collected at the meeting to pay for renewing the charter of the Hiles Hattitude group. Each member is asked to chip in $5 for this. Excess money will be used for materials to keep our scrapbook up to date. Members who were not at the meeting can pay Pat Pfeiffer anytime they see her. This is the only type of “dues” for this group, and it keeps them “official,” and informed of Red Hat activities all over the country and in our more local area, too. Throughout the year there are parties and conventions that the group is invited to take part in and other groups find out where to contact them by the group being registered chartered members of the National Red Hat Society group.

Calendar

October - Breast Cancer Awareness month - Have you ladies scheduled your mammograms? Do it!

October 7 through 13 - Fire Prevention Week

October 8 - Columbus Day Observed

October 12 - Actual Columbus Day

October 18 - Red Hatters meet at 10:15 a.m. at Pine Lake Pub to carpool to dinner theater

October 24 - Last day to call to enter Yard Decorating Contest

October 25 - Yard Contest Being Judged

October 31 - Halloween

Cranberry Season!

Here's a sweet treat from a recipe brochure from Eagle River's Cranberry Fest:

Mixed Cereal and Craisin Bars

3c. Rice Chex cereal

3 c. Cheerios

1-1/2 cups sweetened dried cranberries (Craisins)

1/2 cup sunflower seeds

1 c. honey

3/4 c. sugar

1, 16 oz. jar chunky peanut butter

1/2 c. honey roasted peanuts

1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine cereal, craisins, seeds and set aside.

Combine honey and sugar in medium pan. Heat over medium heat for three to five minutes or until mixture comes to a boil. Boil for one minute. Add peanuts, peanut butter and vanilla. Stir well. Press mixture into buttered 13” x 9” baking pan. When cool, cut into bars.

Inspiration

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.” Connfucius

“The best way out is always through.” Robert Frost

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