United Presbyterian Home

Residents and employees of the United Presbyterian Home participated in the Oct. 8, Healthiest State Initiative by walking 1K on the Cottrell Walking Path. This annual event is part of Iowa?s statewide effort to inspire all residents to improve individual health and happiness while working toward the ultimate goal of making Iowa the healthiest state in the nation by 2016.

Mary Atwood hosted the East Iowa Presbytery meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014, at the United Presbyterian Church in Washington. Mary is the current moderator for this Presbyterian organization covering the eastern Iowa district from Keokuk to Independence. Approximately 125 ministers and elders from 75 churches in the district attended the meeting. The all-afternoon and evening gathering included a business meeting, educational session, featured speaker from Pakistan, worship service and beautiful fellowship throughout the day. Karen Murphy and a group of church volunteers prepared and served a delicious meal in a timely fashion.

Fire Safety Week was observed on Friday when Tom Tanner and volunteer firemen arrived with the Washington firetruck at the United Presbyterian Home. The firemen explained to residents and Up with Day Care children the importance of fire safety and showcased equipment on the fire truck. The children were thrilled for the opportunity to sit inside the truck and watch as the firemen raised the lift.

The art work of Sarah Hanna will be on display in the UPH Gallery until December. Sarah has worked exclusively with watercolors the past few months. Her studies come from a variety of books and existing images, a classic way to learn technique. Her exhibit shows how an artist often returns to the same image in order to study various ideas and ways of painting so you will see several examples of the same subject. Working like this has really paid off for Sarah. She has done a lot of work outside of class as well. Also planned for the show are four glass etchings which will be installed later. Everyone is welcome to stop by and view this wonderful art display.

October birthdays were celebrated in the Health Center on Wednesday. United Presbyterian Church Circle 4 women, Betty Beenblossom, Julia Gamon and Kay Hall provided cakes for the party. Residents celebrating birthdays this month include Bonnie Fritz, Mary Greathouse and Dennis Kahler.

Classics Et Cetera for Oct. 16, included the Overture to ?Don Giovanni? by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; ?Noble Waltzes? Nos. 1-8 by Franz Schubert; Finale of Wind Sextet by Franz Lachner; ?Old Folks at Home? by Stephen Foster (performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir); Luigi Boccherini?s ?Minuet? (arr. by Dick Liebert on the Radio City Music Hall?s Mighty Wurlitzer); 3rd Movement of Piano Concerto No. 2 by Ludwig van Beethoven; ?The Interlochen Bowl,? a march by Edward Franko Goldman.

The favorite city of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) in the latter part of his career, was Prague, capital of Bohemia. His comic opera ?The Barber of Seville? was a great hit there after a lackluster premiere in more cosmopolitan Vienna. Soon, a new symphony, No, 38, was premiered in Prague. It was such a hit that the city commissioned another opera, which turned out to be ?Don Giovanni? (?Don Juan?), another smash. Mozart?s letters at the time rejoice over his success there.