Large Crowd Enjoys Legion Thanksgiving Dinner

 

Karen Pollock, chairperson of the Thanksgiving dinner at the Kensington Legion, reports that 262 persons from six states (one from Connecticut) enjoyed the annual Thanksgiving dinner. She states that there was plenty of food for everyone, luscious salads and desserts brought in by diners, and the freewill donations again made the meal a great success.

 

An event of the caliber cannot happen without the help of many volunteers with some coming in on Wednesday evening to help with preparations and others arriving very early on Thanksgiving morning. Like with all dinners, there is always the dishes to be washed, left-over food to be put away as none is wasted, and the general clean-up of the Legion Hall.

 

Karen wishes to thank everyone who came to enjoy the meal. When asked how long this tradition would continue, she replied "As long as it is fun for us to do it."
 

Kensington Students To Present Program Dec. 10

 

All students in Kensington schools, Kindergarten through high school, will present their Christmas program at the school gym Monday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. Everyone is invited to come to enjoy a program to get into the holiday mood. Directors are Mrs. Kristi Reneberg and Sara Nelson assisted by the elementary teachers.
 

Barn Christmas on Dec. 15

 

The traditional Barn Christmas near Kensington will be held Saturday, Dec. 15, with services at 5 and 7 p.m. Worship goers are asked to meet at First St. John Lutheran Church on Highway 36 a half hour before the service for a ride to the barn. There will be no parking at the barn. Soup will be served at the parish hall beginning at 4:30 p.m. Freewill donations will go for missions.
 

Kates Christmas Party is Dec. 8

 

K-town Kates will gather at the St. John Lutheran Parish Hall (north) on Saturday, Dec. 8, at 6:30 p.m. for their Christmas dinner and party. There will be a $10 gift exchange. Members may bring gifts, wrapped and labeled, for the girls at the Beloit Youth Facility. Please RSVP to Ruth Levin or Ruth Bienhoff.
 

USD-238 School Calendar

 

Thursday, Nov. 29--Jr. High Basketball vs. Jewell @ Kensington, 4 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 30--High School Basketball vs. Alma @ Kensington, 4 p.m.

                        Junior Class Soup Supper in Home Ec Room

Saturday, Dec. 1--High School Honor Band & Choir Concert @ Hays, 4 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 4--High School Basketball @ Downs (Lakeside/Osborne/Kensington Tournament)

Thursday, Dec. 6--Jr. High Basketball @ Logan, 4 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 7--High School Basketball Tournament @ Downs, Continued

Saturday, Dec. 8--High school Basketball Tournament @ Downs, Finals

Monday, Dec. 10--Kindergarten thru Grade 12 Music Program in Gym, 7 p.m.

    (Menus are not available this week)
 

Senior Party at Center on Dec. 15

 

The annual Christmas party will be held at the Kensington Senior Center on Saturday, Dec. 15 from 2 to 4 p.m. Watch for further details. There will be a program and grab bag gift exchange.

 

Pitch will be played at the Center Thursday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. The December birthdays will be celebrated Thursday, Dec. 20.

 

Menus and complete calendar events are not available at this time.
 

United Church Brings Christmas Joy to Prairie Haven

 

Members of the United Church of Kensington sang carols at Prairie Haven Sunday evening to bring the Christmas spirit to residents. They also had the "Hanging of the Greens" at the Church on Sunday.
 

Levin/Anderson Wedding in Prairie Village

 

Many relatives and friends attended the wedding of Joe Levin, son of Steve and Deb Levin of Kensington, and Kylee Anderson, daughter of Steve and Kathy Anderson of Belleville, Saturday evening, Nov. 24 in Prairie Village.

 

Joe graduated from Kensington High School and Kansas State University. He is an architectural engineer at Henderson Engineers in Lenexa. Kylee graduated from Belleville High School and Kansas State University. She is a second year medical student at the University of Kansas School of Medicine.
 

Christmas Card Snow Friday Night

 

Locals woke up to a "Marshmallow World" Saturday morning which helps to put everyone in the Christmas mood. Several inches of snow had fallen during the night with no wind leaving the trees, fences, and all vegetation covered for a Winter Wonderland picture postcard. It didn't last long after the sun came up and only protected areas still showed evidences of the snow on Sunday. The children had fun going sledding, making snowmen and having snowball fights while the other folks just enjoyed the beautiful picturesque scenery.

 

The weather made quite a change last week after the  temperatures reached 83 degrees Monday before dropping into the 30's on Thanksgiving day reminding everyone that it is November. The city crew and homeowners hearkened to  the weather  report that the change was coming and were busily putting up their outdoor decorations before the cold weather set in.
 

Death of Lena Lungren

 

Funeral services for Lena Lungren, 96, were held at First St. John Lutheran Church Wednesday, Nov. 21, with Pastor Dave Hutson officiating. Burial followed in the Germantown Cemetery. Mrs. Lungren died Nov. 19 at the Smith County Hospital. Survivors include nieces and nephews. She was a sister of the late John Brien and Rosa Bohm. She and her late husband moved to Smith Center after their retirement in California.
 

Around the Community

 

Lucille Schoeni was dismissed from the Smith County Hospital in time to spend Thanksgiving at home with her family. She is now at Prairie Haven for extended care.

 

Martin and Florence Stenseng spent the Thanksgiving weekend with their daughter and family, Margaret and Brad Johnson of Lawrence.

 

Pastor Koeneke's sister, husband and their son, Diane, Glenn and Mark Mills of Centennial, Colo., spent the Thanksgiving week here and helped put the outdoor Christmas decorations at the parsonage.

 

Louis and Kristi Seemann, Alex, Ariel, and Ava of Overland Park spent the weekend with Maria Seemann and Martin and Tara Seemann, Aleah, Andrea, and Kyler. Louis had just returned from five weeks ground school in Detroit. IN December he will go back to train two additional weeks on a Boeing 747 for his new job as a pilot on overseas routes.

 

Bob and Donna Westbrook spent Thanksgiving with Janelle and David Grau and McKenzie in Colorado Springs.

 

Diann and Mike Hrabe of Canton prepared, delivered and served a Thanksgiving dinner for their family at the home of Lois Hrabe. A birthday party for five-year-old Raini Hrabe, daughter of Trina and Dan Hrabe of Great Bend, was also celebrated. Enjoying this occasion with Raini was her brother, Owen, and their parents, Dan and Trina, Uncle Joel, Aunt Kindra, Blane and Benton Hrabe, and Great-Grandma Lois.

 

Thanksgiving dinner guests of Joel and Connie Bienhoff were Nick and Emily Levin of Inman, Megan and Kayden Hudson, Paul, Deb, and Leah Bienhoff and Ruth Bienhoff.

 

Your correspondent apologizes to anyone who tried to reach her Monday as she had to be gone for the day.
 

Notes from Prairie Haven

 

Happenings the past several weeks at Prairie Haven besides the usual events were the Adopted Grandchildren coming to visit on Nov. 14 which the residents always enjoy. Pastor Patsy Koeneke has been having the Thursday morning Bible studies followed by coffee and fellowship. Bingo is played on Tuesday and Friday afternoons. Ruth Wolf came to entertain with piano music. Pat Hall played horn solos accompanied by Janet Hoverson representing the Kensington Music Club. Movies are often watched in the afternoons and evenings and cards, puzzles, game shows, and a Bible Quiz were afternoon entertainments. Everyone enjoys the Lawrence Welke Shows on television.  The residents also enjoyed relating family stories.