Dixie Mullin sat sniffing the air wondering how she could spend the long November Saturday. Georgene was busy with house things, Joe was out mailing letters, and Brian and Colleen were doing important kid things so Dixie was on her own. What to do?

“Let’s go dig us a hole!” she thought, and before anyone noticed, Dixie had accomplished a big hole and was out of the yard and on an adventure; a near tragic adventure. She didn’t say how she got there but Rachel Ramos of Oak Park saw Dixie dodging cars, buses and trucks on Harlem. Rachel grabbed the little dog and took her home. She called the Animal Care League to see if anyone had reported a missing dog.

Meanwhile, the Mullins realized their dog was nowhere to be seen and frantically began a search. A dog at the Forest Park police station turned out not to be their dog. A trip to the Animal Care League in Oak Park proved fruitless, but there they were told that Rachel Ramos had called to report a rescued dog. A short trip to Ms. Ramos’ home found Dixie happily seated on a couch with the Ramos’ two dogs. Rachel had taken Dixie for two walks and fed her a vegetarian dinner.

Theresa Marousek, aka T, adopted a shy dog about two years ago. The dog, Z, quickly responded to T’s care and the two became best friends. But when T heard of a shelter dog who had been abused, was in bad shape and was about to be euthanized, she said she had to give poor Sullivan a chance. So, Sullivan came up from the south in relays. He was a very suspicious, frightened and nervous pooch. Unfortunately, he got out the door shortly after arriving in Forest Park.

Since Sully had no idea where he was, it seemed it would be impossible to get him back. He was sighted in the vicinity of Circle and Jackson for about three days, but would never come when called. Long story short, T did get him back. Now he, Z and T are just fine. Theresa said River Foresters and Forest Parkers were all very kind and helpful with her search.

The Animal Care League of Oak Park is having its annual Christmas Bazaar on Dec. 5 and 6 at 809 South Oak Park Ave. Baked goods, pet treats, decorations, jewelry and all kinds of Christmas fun will be available. Santa will be there, and your pet can have his picture taken with the jolly guy. Of course there’ll be food available. Come by Dec. 5, from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m., and on Dec. 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Go to www.animalcareleague.org for more information.

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Clay Baum on the birth of their first child, a girl, Margaret Louise. Margaret Louise was born Nov. 11 weighing 8 pounds. Her grandparents are John Becker and Mary and Web Baum.

Saint John, 305 Circle, will host a caroling recital Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. On Dec. 7, the church will have a Taize service, and on Dec. 17 don’t miss Antonia Vivaldi’s “Gloria,” one of the most popular pieces of Vivaldi’s church music. For more information call 366-3226.

Before there was Centuries and Sleuths there was Bernice Apparel. We all loved Bernice and her daughter, Betty. We loved Cathy and Ann and brother, Louie, too. We all cried when Betty died and the store closed. Bernice went to Texas to live with her other daughter. Now we have lost the original Bernice Zellick. She died in Texas and was buried Monday.

Happy birthday to Ariel Michelle Smith on Nov. 26; on the 27th, to Brian Hawkins and Megan Ryann; on Nov. 28, special greetings to May Bill; on the 29th, Jessica Marafatsos and Maggie MacKay have birthdays; Nov. 30, Michael Branda and Patrick Rice; on Dec. 1, a happy birthday to Bradley Edward Specter, Valerie Winche, Gerry Janopoulos and Jessica Witlock; Dec. 3, Jane Holmberg, Dixie Pardun, Reagan Hosty, Roland Maughm and Mylinda Stange.

Louisa May Alcott was born on Nov. 30, which is also the date of the first ever Army-Navy game in 1890. Navy won.

Shirley Chisholm was born Nov. 30, 1924. She was the First African-American in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Dec. 1 is the birthday of the game bingo, which dates back to1929.

Maria Callas was born Dec. 2 in 1923.

Old enough to remember Sen. Joseph McCarthy? He was silenced by his fellow senators on this day in 1950.