Alva Review-Courier -

The Patchwork Friends OHCE group met for their regular meeting on Oct. 13 at the home of Doris White. Maureen Thomas called the meeting to order and Joanne Prewett led the group in the flag salute. The group welcomed guest Teresa Cummings. Devotions were given by the hostess from a Billy Graham devotional book based on Psalm 17. Roll call was answered to the question, “What is your favorite cheese?” Attending the meeting were members Dottie Gatz, Barbara Cue, Liz Kinzie, Janice Litton, Dee Mason, Liz Kinzie, Aleta Nolan, JoAnne Prewett, Maureen Thomas and Doris White.

Minutes of the September meeting were read by Gatz and approved as written. A treasurer's report was given by Mason. Thomas presented Mason a check for $15 for the highest attendance at the recent Fall OHCE meeting with nine of ten members attending. Prewett was elected the county OHCE secretary at the OHCE Fall Association Meeting. She and other officers will be installed at the next county meeting. White was appointed to a Fair Planning Committee.

Discussion was held on the new Quilt of Valor that is being quilted by Mason. It will be presented to Brian Thomas at the November Quilt Guild meeting at the Graceful Arts Center. Each member of the group made a quilt block to contribute to the quilt of valor.

Patchwork Friends will sponsor a sewing day in January to make additional adult clothing protectors for the local nursing homes. The date will be decided in December and other groups will be invited.

Holiday Happenings will be held at the Woods County Fairground on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Several members plan to attend.

Dottie Gatz presented the lesson “Say Cheese and Smile.” Cheese was being made in Mesopotamia before 6000 B.C. The Pilgrims brought cheese on the Mayflower in 1620. The United State produces 25 percent of the world supply of cheese at a total of 9 billion pounds of cheese produced per year. The top five cheese-producing states are Wisconsin, California, Idaho, New York and Minnesota. Gatz distributed different types of cheese to the group to sample and enjoy.

The next leader's lesson, “Exploring Holiday Traditions,” will be held on Oct. 27 at the Woods County courthouse at 1:30 p.m. Cue and Gatz plan to attend.

The next meeting will be held at the home of Barbara Cue on Nov. 10. Kinzie offered to hold the annual Christmas party at her house with the date to be determined at the next meeting.