Crawfordsville Wednesday Study Club, Lions Club meet

The Crawfordsville Wednesday Study Club members; Ruth Erwin, Rachel Koehler, Debbie Lowe, Linda Wiltfang, Pauline Richardson, Janice Twinam enjoyed lunch and a time of fellowship at Dodici's in Washington on Nov. 17.

Following lunch, the minutes of the October 2021 meeting were read and the treasurer's report was given by Debbie. New program books for 2021-2022 were handed out. Several book brief's were given.

Cathy Williams will host the Dec. 15, 2021 meeting with the time and place to be announced.

Crawfordsville Lions Club

Twelve members and three guests, Mary Blosser, Linda Finke and Shirley Massey were in attendance for the Nov. 22 meeting of the Crawfordsville Lions Club at the Crawfordsville Community Room.

Lion President Gene Miller opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and offered prayer.

Preceding the business meeting, Linda Finke introduced guest speaker Mary Blosser of Washington who spoke to the group about aronia berries. She raises them and sells them at the Farmer's Market in Washington. The proceeds from her sales go to wordsower.org, a widow ladies group in Liberia.

She shared many samples of different dishes she makes with them and incorporates them with other ingredients. Some of those were an apple-aronia berry crisp, cookies, sauces that can be used as a dip on crackers, and often combines them with other berries in dishes. She also makes chili and vegetable soup, incorporated with the aronia berries.

She shared all the health benefits of the berries. They are very high in antioxidants, they help improve blood circulation and strengthen blood vessels, which helps in preventing diabetes and other cardiovascular diseases, they balance blood pressure levels, help with digestive problems and can also help with weight control by helping with cholesterol and lipid levels. They are very high in many vitamins and minerals.

Though native to eastern North American they have been planted extensively in Europe, Asia, Russia, Denmark and Europe. They are grown on bushes, some of which can grow to a height of eight feet or more. Most are three to four feet. In the U.S., a selection from a native source in Michigan is being sold as "Morton" black chokeberry and are marketed in the Midwest under the trademark "Iroquois Beauty ''. They are dark blue and resemble a blueberry, but much more tart.

The meeting then resumed with the secretary's report, read by Lion Rose was approved as read. Lion Finke gave the treasurer's report.

Old Business: The Christmas party was again discussed and members were reminded that it is Tuesday, December 6 at 6:30p.m.

New Business: Discussion was held concerning cards to be sent for the Christmas drawing. Lion President Miller distributed the lists of those to be contacted for donations for the drawing. A letter was passed around from Hertko Hollow telling about their camp for Diabetes.

As there was no further business to come before the club, the meeting adjourned.

Tail Twister Fletcher entertained with trivia about authors, which proved to be very challenging.