Nokomis library to hold tree dedication

October 23, 2024 94

NOKOMIS — The Nokomis Public Library will be holding a tree dedication for former long-time Library Director Debra Lehman on Saturday, October 26.

Lehman started as a library employee in 1990 before getting promoted to Library Director in 1996. She would hold that position until her retirement in 2023. Lisa Casterline succeeded her in that position earlier this year.

“The library board wanted to do something to honor and show our appreciation to Debra for all the years she served not only the library and its patron, but the community as well,” said Board President Margie Eisenbarth. “The 33 years she was with the library helped to shape it and has kept it flourishing to this day.”

Lehman was part of the team that saw the transition of the library from its former location inside the city complex to the former Masonic Lodge.

The tree dedication will be held at 10 a.m. in the parking lot towards the back of the building, 100 N. Spruce St.

“In literature, trees can represent growth, information, strength, and new beginnings among other things,” Eisenbarth said. “All [of] these are traits that Debra showed as Director. We think [that] a tree dedicated to her at our new building is particularly fitting because it represents all that she did in that role.”

Eisenbarth adds that the library board hopes to see family, friends, and members of the community there for the dedication of the tree and to thank Debra in person for all her years as Director.

Trunk or Treat is this Saturday in Nokomis

The Downtown Nokomis Association and the Greater Nokomis Chamber of Commerce are holding their annual Trunk or Treat on Saturday, October 26 at Fred B. Johnson Memorial Park in downtown Nokomis.

The event will kick off at 4 p.m. with multiple businesses in the area holding trunks around the park. Meanwhile, the first screening of the Halloween film “Hocus Pocus” will be taking place on the west side of the park. The screening should likely run until 5:30 p.m.

There will be a second screening of the film beginning at 6 p.m. to cap off the event.

The license for the screening was sponsored by Jack Tosetti and Bernadine Hines Tosetti with the screening equipment made available by Kurt Aumann of Aumann Auctions.

Downtown Nokomis Association will have soda and popcorn available for both screenings, and the Junie B’s and Smoking Guns BBQ food truck will also be on-site during the event.

Other events in Nokomis on Saturday

Sunny and Red’s will be holding a “Tailgate for a Mission” event as a local tailgate for the game between the 20th-ranked Fighting Illini and top-ranked Oregon.

Nokomis Christian Missions has been gracious enough to allow Frank and Beth Steele to use their northern parking lot for the event, and donations will be accepted which will go directly to the Missions.

The event will kick off at 10 a.m., and attendees are welcome to bring their grill, food, and snacks. Sunny and Red’s is located at 103 W. State St.

Later in the day, there will be a music trivia event, hosted by Ayden’s Army, that will be hosted at the St. Louis Parish Center, 523 E. Union St. The event will kick off at 5 p.m. with a pre-game event being held at The Depot Pub in Coalton.

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Jake Leonard

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Jake Leonard, a broadcast media and journalism veteran, is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. Leonard is also GM and program director of Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network, wrestling editor and contributing writer for Ambush Sports, a contributing writer for My Sports Vote and Midwest Sports Network, and a former contributor to Bleacher Report and Overtime Heroics. He resides at home in Nokomis, Ill. with his dog Buster.