The Fillmore Ebell Club will be entertained this month by members of the Bardsdale United Methodist Church Handbell Choir, the Orange Pealers, at the Veterans Memorial building on November 24, 2009.

The Bardsdale United Methodist Church Orange Pealers started in 1989 as a direct result of a memorial gift given by the Dorman family in memory of Helen Lidamore’s father, Harold Dorman. The two-octave choir was started with a great deal of enthusiasm, but not a great deal of bell ringing experience, for no one had ever rung a bell before! After one year, the original director stepped down and Marcia Heerema volunteered to be the director.

Again the Orange Pealers were faced with the same problem, no previous bell experience! However, membership in the Area XII American Guild of English Handbell Ringers has made a huge difference. The choir has attended many bell conferences and is proud to say that they have graduated from “tins” to “coppers,” with an occasional “bronze” moment and are still ringing merrily every Sunday. The choir has purchased two additional octaves of bells, as well as three octaves of hand chimes which together provide a variety of lovely sounds.

Currently the choir has eight members: Barbara Mayberry, Helen Lidamore, Donna Wood, Irene Morris, Jann Duchacek, Mimi Burns, and Ralph Duchacek. We are fortunate to have two wonderful guest ringers: Rev.Wilbur and Dee Skeels who are assisting us in our Christmas program.

The choir practices Thursdays at 3:30 p.m. Anyone interested in ringing or flinging a bell is invited to join us. Just call Marcia Heerema, at 524-3674.

Anyone interested in more information, or becoming a member of the Fillmore Ebell Club, may call Pat Murray at 524-1825.