Deacon Jim Lonick of Sacred Heart Parish in Shawano celebrated a traditional seder with the second-grade students April 8 at Sacred Heart Catholic School.
The seder is a meal that Jews celebrate during the holiday of Passover every spring. The holiday lasts for eight days and nights. On the first two nights of Passover, a special meal called a seder is held. At the seder, families and friends sit around the table and read the story of Moses leading the Jewish people from Egypt. Symbolic foods are served at the seder, and some are featured on a special seder plate.
One of the most important Passover foods is matzoh, which is a flat, cracker-like bread. According to the Passover story, when the Jews were granted their freedom, they left Egypt in such a hurry there was no time for the bread to rise; this is how matzoh was first made.
Lonick presented the students with the story, as well as with the food traditionally seen at a seder — roasted/hard boiled egg, matzoh, shank bone, apple and nut mix, horseradish, green vegetables and parsley. Red wine is traditionally served as well, but Lonick substituted juice for the students.
4 Witt-Birn students medal at state forensics
Four members of the Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School forensics team received medals after the state competition April 9 at DeForest High School.
Alex Centeno earned a perfect score and a gold medal for his informative speech on bitcoin.
Taylor Bergner earned a silver medal on her public address speech on to what extent, if any, should the government support renewable energies.
Jessica Storlie earned a silver medal on her prose reading of an excerpt from George Orwell’s novel “1984.”
Jalynn Horacek earned a 23 on her farrago presentation, which was based around the Greek goddess, Persephone.
Those who perform at state and receive a perfect score of 25 earn a gold medal. Those who score 24-23 earn silver medals for their performances.
Arbor Day celebration planned at animal park
The city of Shawano will celebrate Arbor Day on April 27 at 10 a.m. at the Animal Recreation Park located on Jaycee Court.
Members of the tree advisory committee and city officials will recognize Friend of Nature Award winners Jeff and Marlene Bowman located at 814 W. Wescott St. and the Shawano Ambulance Service located at 220 N. Main St as this year’s award recipients.
The Friend of Nature Awards are given annually to individuals and businesses who have shown leadership and commitment to improving their properties by planting and protecting trees and landscape plants. The plantings on these properties enhance the natural qualities of the properties for improved natural beauty, improved air quality, improved stormwater runoff, and by providing shade, aesthetics, and bird habitat.
Fourth and fifth grade students from Olga Brener Intermediate School, St. James Lutheran School and Sacred Heart Catholic Schools will attend and receive a tree seedling to be planted. The tree seedlings have been donated by the state Department of Natural Resources to help promote Arbor Day and to help instill a greater appreciation for the benefits of trees in young people.
Shawano is celebrating 28 years as a Tree City USA national member, 19 years as a Tree Line USA award recipient and 10 years receiving the Growth Award.
ASPI auditioning for ‘The Foreigner’
Abrams Spotlight Productions Inc. is holding auditions for “The Foreigner” from 6-8:30 p.m. April 26-27 at the Nancy Byng Community Theater, 5852 Maple St., Abrams.
Mike Eserkaln, the artistic director of Comedy City in De Pere, will direct the ASPI summer comedy. “The Foreigner” is a funny, two-act comedy by American playwright Larry Shue, who also wrote “The Nerd.”
The show will be presented June 16-19 and June 23-26 at the theater.
Actors will have two opportunities to auditions: anytime from 6-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 26, or Wednesday, April 27, at the Nancy Byng Community Theater. Everyone auditioning will be asked to do a short reading from the play. No prep is necessary.
Virtual auditions are available for those unable to audition in person. To schedule a virtual audition or for information, call 920-826-5852, email theater.aspi@gmail.com or visit abramsspotlightproductions.com.
Gillett Lions Club serving up spaghetti
The Gillett Lions Club is having its annual spaghetti dinner in conjunction with the opening of the community’s ATV weekend from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 7. Locals will be able to drive up and take home their meals at Zippel Park, 150 N. McKenzie Ave., Gillett.
The spaghetti will include a choice of sauce with or without meat. The dinner includes garlic bread, salad and dessert. The cost per meal is $8.50.
Advanced orders will be taken, starting April 24, at 920-598-0074.
AROUND THE COMMUNITY: Deacon provides seder to Sacred Heart students
