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Gerald Hoyle recently returned from his 34th fishing trip to Eagle Lake Lodge in Ontario, Canada ? something that has become a Hoyle family tradition. Approximately 11 guys from the area and two from Ottumwa made the trip this year including Gerald?s sons, Jeff and Joel; his grandson, Jason; and a great-grandson, Jarrod. The Hoyle family makes this 900-mile trip at least once a year and sometimes more often to the same lodge where they are welcomed like family. Gerald reports that he usually fishes for walleye, so when he caught a 6- pound, 20-inch smallmouth bass it was quite by accident. It is the largest smallmouth bass that Gerald has ever had the pleasure of catching, and he got his daily exercise just bringing it in. After admiring the catch and snapping a few photos, Gerald returned the fish to its home waters and watched as it swam away. Gerald intends to have a replica made of the fish to mount on his wall.

The Friendly Circle Women?s Club met in the Activity Room on Thursday afternoon Sept. 4, 2014. Marion Cuddeback, Ada Kleese, Beulah Temple, Wilma Wright, Joyce Neble and Audrey Reed attended the meeting. The Friendly Circle Club began 70-some years ago as a neighborhood social group west of Washington near the rural communities of Titus and Grace Hill. Several years ago they donated their numerous record books to the University of Iowa Library where they have been scanned and can now be accessed through the Internet. Although the Friendly Circle Club no longer meets on a regular basis, this group of women gets together periodically to socialize.

Dave Henderson spent several days last week at an area vineyard helping with the grape harvest. Dave reports that the early morning grape-picking hours have been cool and wet so far this year, a sharp contrast from last year?s extreme heat. He plans to go back this week and pick more.

Fran Ray enjoyed a visit from her daughter, Janet Ray of New York City, last week. They were joined later by granddaughter Rosalie Ray, who is studying urban planning at UCLA. Along with Carol Ray, they enjoyed lunch and supper on the downtown square, a birthday celebration for Rosalie at Dairy Mart and the company of Wendy Heck and Mike and Julie Zahs. On Saturday they went to see Lake Darling where Fran and Rex Ray had the concessions at one time and where Janet and her future husband worked at the lake one summer during college. They all agreed that the lake looks wonderful and look forward to more visits. Janet and Rosalie will continue their trip by driving to Cincinnati, Ohio, Charlottesville, Va., and Washington, D.C., then take the train to Philadelphia, Pa., where Janet's son Max lives, and on to New York. Rosalie will return to Los Angeles to finish work on her M.A. degree.

The Rev. Kitch Shatzer was surprised on her birthday last Friday when residents showed up with treats and sang Happy Birthday to her during coffee hour in the Town Center. Pat Goff and Pat Jenkins baked cupcakes for the occasion and residents showed up with good wishes and cards to show their affection for Rev. Kitch.

The family of Betty Beenblossom celebrated her birthday on Saturday. Marty, Teresa, Brynn and Luke Beenblossom, of Washington; Matt, Karlyn, Tia and Tarryn Beenblossom of Ankeny; and Michelle, Colten, Kaitlyn and Chloe Glosser of Packwood met at the Pizza Ranch for lunch. The guys attended the Hawkeye game in the afternoon and the girls shopped at the craft fair downtown and later returned to Betty?s home to visit. Betty reports that it was wonderful to spend the day with her family.