By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

As we approach the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons, we know we will hear the ringing bell and see the Angle Trees of the Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army raises funds to help those in need with their Red Kettle collections. They also sponsor the Angel Tree program, where individuals may choose a registered “angel” and purchase gifts of new clothing and toys for them. The gifts are distributed to the families in time to place them under the family’s Christmas tree.
If anybody needs assistance during the holidays or would like to sign up a child who lives in Washington County for the Angel Tree, they can call 812-883-1637.

The Red Kettle fundraising campaign will begin Saturday, Nov. 27, and runs through Tuesday, Dec. 24. The bell ringing hours are Friday – Saturday 10 a.m.—6 p.m. and Mondays -Thursdays 4-8 p.m. There are no Sunday shifts.

Ringers can be individuals, organizations, families, churches, school groups, 4-H groups or scout groups. To join in, please call Meredith Peters at 812-620-5835 as early as possible.

This year, as in years past, the red kettle will be set up at both doors at the Salem Walmart.

How the Red Kettle Campaign Began

General Booth founded the Salvation Army in 1865 on the east side of London. This area was filled with poverty, a lot of recent immigrants, drunkards, prostitutes and orphans. It was hard to say that there was a loving God out there when so many hungry and cold. So, the concept came up of soup, souls and salvation.

To accomplish that goal funds were needed. The kettle collection was started in San Francisco in 1891 after a Salvation Captain Joseph McFee promised to feed 1,000 destitute people near Fishman’s Wharf.

His idea was to set up an old lobster pot for collections, and he came up with the slogan “Keep the pot boiling.” He met his goal and collected enough money to feed the people.

The bell ringing began in 1900 with a teenaged volunteer in New York City named Amelia Kunkel. She was frustrated that so many bankers bypassed her and ignored her fundraising efforts. She went to Woolworth’s Department Store and bought a small bell for ten cents. The bell ringing became an established tradition for the Red Kettle program that continues today.

 Every holiday season, Madison transforms into "Merry Madison," not only as a delightful holiday destination but as the very feeling of the season, where the warmth and joy of the holidays fill every street and shop. Nestled on the banks of the Ohio River, Madison invites visitors to explore vibrant streets, charming shops, historic sites, and an enchanting atmosphere that make this National Historic Landmark District a perfect seasonal escape.

Holiday Highlights:

• Nights before Christmas Candlelight Tour of Homes

Witness history come alive with a unique candlelight tour through beautifully preserved private homes and historic sites. Back-to-back weekends from November 29 to December 7, Madison opens doors to six stunning homes and 6 historic sites decorated with holiday splendor. Stroll through Madison's heritage while enjoying seasonal music and festivities.

• Holly Jolly Trolley  

Hop on for a delightful trolley ride through Madison's festive downtown! Guests can relax and enjoy the charm of the season. This hop-on-hop-off experience is perfect for taking in decorated storefronts, glowing lights, a cheerful holiday atmosphere, and holiday shopping - happening on the same days as the Nights before Christmas home tour.

• A Very Merry Madison Christmas Parade & Celebration

On December 7, downtown Madison bursts into holiday cheer as the annual Christmas parade brings Santa, giant balloons, and spirited floats through town, starting at 11AM. Afterward, Broadway Fountain & Street comes alive with local vendors, kids’ crafts, hot chocolate, and a special appearance by Santa and his reindeer.

• A Christmas Carol Reading & Seasonal Performances

Storyteller Bob Hartsaw brings Dickens' “A Christmas Carol” to life in a reading fit for kids ages 3 to 103 at Gallery 115. For music lovers, the Louisville Brass returns with a free holiday concert at Trinity United Methodist Church on December 5, while the Madison Community Band delivers festive tunes on December 14 at Clifty Inn.

• Lights, Shopping, and Unique Festivities

Throughout the season, Madison’s streets twinkle with holiday lights from Bicentennial Park’s enchanting displays to Broadway Fountain's Light Up Madison event on November 29. Shoppers can indulge in unique holiday finds all season long, Small Business Saturday, and The Merry Marketplace to name a few.

• Festival of Trees, Hosts of Angels, and Rudy's Garden at Lanthier Winery & Distillery
  Celebrate the season surrounded by over 850 Christmas trees, angelic displays, and the glowing charm of Rudy's Garden. This free, family-friendly event is open daily from November 29 through Christmas Eve, offering a magical setting for visitors of all ages.

• Santa Sightings

Madison welcomes Santa in a variety of settings—from the cozy Santa Cottage on Main Street to the Caroling with Santa event to seeing the big guy light up Madison with the Mayor. Children can also drop off letters in Santa’s mailbox at City Hall and receive a personal reply from Santa himself.

To make it easy to join in all of the festivities and see Santa’s schedule, every event has been compiled in the annual ‘Merry Madison & More Holiday Events Brochure’, available to view or download online.

This holiday season, Madison, Indiana, invites families, friends, and travelers to celebrate in a truly enchanting setting. With festive trolley rides, historic tours, Santa sightings and holiday shopping, “Merry Madison” offers a memorable experience for everyone. For more information go to www.VisitMadison.org or call 812-265-2956.

Debt collection scams can be one of the most frightening and persistent scam types. Victims often report that scammers harass them or their family members for weeks or even months, both at home and at work, trying to get them to pay a debt they don’t even owe. BBB receives numerous reports of con artists changing tactics just to get the information necessary to collect information or cash.

Here’s how the scam works:
The scammer calls or texts and says that they work for a loan company, law firm or government agency, and claims to be collecting an overdue payment for you or a family member. After replying that you or your family member don’t owe money, the “debt collector” starts threatening to file a lawsuit, have wages garnished, request an arrest warrant, or arrange for a court appearance thousands of miles from home. All of these claims are nerve-wracking, leaving the person answering the phone not even sure they owe money in the first place.

One consumer reported their experience with a debt collection scam to BBB Scam Tracker: "Family member was contacted being told that this company was looking for me to deliver papers to me. I contacted the company and was told that a loan from [company name redacted] had been taken out in my name back in Nov. 2012. I had no clue about this loan but was told that I was going to be served with papers and have a class three felony on my record if convicted of defrauding a bank institution if I didn't settle the matter today." This consumer reported losing $1,489.

If you receive a phone call like this, the first thing to do is to stay calm. Despite these threats, these "debt collectors" don't have any legal power. In most cases, the alleged overdue loan doesn't even exist. Don't give in and pay the money you don't owe, otherwise, they'll call back for more.

The "good cop" version:
An unsolicited call comes through from a debt collection agency. The caller claims there is an unpaid debt from long ago that is about to go to court. The person speaking is polite at first and appears to have your best interests at heart. They seem like they sincerely want to help avoid the court date. To fix the situation, all you need to do is make a reasonable payment, perhaps even divided up into several installments.

No matter how kind the caller seems, don’t fall for it. If you make the payment, the person you spoke to on the phone will take the money and disappear. Any future efforts to contact them will be in vain.

How to spot and avoid similar scams:

Ask the debt collector to provide an official "validation notice" of the debt. In the U.S. and most of Canada, debt collectors are required by law to provide this information in writing. The notice must include the amount of the debt, the name of the creditor, and a statement of your rights. If the self-proclaimed collector won't provide the information, hang up.

Ask for proof of the debt and of the agency calling. If you do owe money and aren’t sure if the caller is real, ask for their name, company, street address, and telephone number. Do not provide any bank account, credit card, or other personally identifiable information over the phone. If the collector is legitimate, they should have details on the accounts in question.

Just hang up. If you don’t have any outstanding loans, hang up. Don’t press any numbers or speak to an “agent.”
 
Never provide payment to someone you don't know. If you're being urgently asked to provide payment over the phone to someone you don't know, hang up. Scammers often ask for payment through wire transfer, prepaid gift cards, or digital wallet apps.

Reach out to any institutions you're loaning from to verify the information. If you currently have loans taken out and aren't sure if the caller is real, call the banks or loan companies on your own and verify if what the caller states is true. Look up their customer service phone numbers on your own, and never use a phone number that a potential scammer is using or provides you with.

Check your credit report. In the US, check with one of the three national credit reporting companies (Equifax, TransUnion, Experian). In Canada, check with Equifax Canada. This will help determine if there are outstanding debts or if there is suspicious activity.

Place a fraud alert on your credit report. If the scammer has personal information, place a fraud alert with the three national credit reporting companies.

To report a scam, go to BBB’s Scam Tracker at www.bbb.org/scamtracker.

Join the IU Southeast Theatre Department for The Spitfire Grill, a musical of hope, community, and rebirth, playing at the Robinson Theater in the Paul W. Ogle Cultural and Community Center November 22-24.

The Spitfire Grill tells the story of Percy, a troubled young woman seeking a fresh start in a small Wisconsin town. Based on the film by Lee David Zlotoff with music and book by James Valq and lyrics and book by Fred Alley, the story explores the healing power of community, forgiveness, and hope. Through folk-inspired music, Percy’s journey brings new life to a town long burdened with longing and regret, reminding us of the joy found in human kindness.

The Spitfire Grill is suitable for most theatergoers over the age of 13. Featuring a beautiful story of hope and redemption, The Spitfire Grill includes some adult language, mild alcohol use and themes of prison and war. The show also includes adult themes of sexual assault, abuse, and murder.

Performance Schedule:
Evening shows at 7:00 p.m. on November  22 and 23
Matinee show at 2:30 p.m. on November  24

Tickets:
$15 for adults
$10 for students with valid ID
Tickets can be purchased online at oglecenter.com/tickets. All seating is general admission.

Director: Jessica de la Rosa
Musical Director: Christina L. Booker

THE SPITFIRE GRILL is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals. www.concordtheatricals.com

About IU Southeast:  IU Southeast is one of nine campuses of Indiana University. Offering top-quality and nationally accredited programs in education, nursing, business, social sciences, natural sciences, arts and humanities, the scenic 180-acre campus is located less than 15 minutes from downtown Louisville, Kentucky. It currently has over 3,750 students and employs over 360 faculty members. About 400 students live on campus in five fully furnished, lodge-style residence halls. Through an agreement with the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Indiana University Southeast offers in-state tuition to students enrolled from eight counties in the Louisville region. For more information, visit https://southeast.iu.edu. IU Southeast is a tobacco-free campus.