United Presbyterian Home

As part of the Summer Kids Program, schoolage children are spending time this summer interacting with residents of the United Presbyterian Home, and gaining from their knowledge, experience and talents. Norm Thomas shared his love of archery when he took the kids to Clemons Creek Shooting Range last week for their first archery lesson. The kids used a regular Genesis bow and with the aid of Archery Club instructors Norman Thomas and Kyle Middle several of them shot a bull?s-eye the first time. Chef Cory Evans, also a member of the Archery Club, made sack lunches so that everyone could enjoy a picnic at the range.

Gwen Ying shared her love of music with the youngsters when they talked about violins and the materials they are made of. Ben Kronlage reports, ?We got to learn about the violin and horsehair strings on the violin. We also got to learn about the frog that holds the strings in place. And we got to sing the ABCs in tune. We got to call Mrs. Gwen, Sunshine!?

Ruth Zehr and Myron Shields traveled to the Ox Yoke Inn in Amana for brunch on Sunday to attend the live radio polka broadcast. Ruth was joined by her son, Fred, and his wife from Cedar Rapids.

Birchard Holden and his brother Harvey attended a four-day family reunion in Eldridge, last weekend. Birch and Harvey were joined by sisters Virginia Dunville of Salem, Va., and Lila Shotwell of Richmond, Va. Approximately 25 relatives attended from as far away as Virginia and Arizona.

Tia Beenblossom of Des Moines spent a week with Grandma Betty Beenblossom. Brynn and Luke Beenblossom joined Tia for some fun cousin time.

Baseball and softball games have been on the schedule for many resident grandparents lately. John and Gerry Sproule spent the week in Wichita, Kan., visiting their daughter Kim and her family. While there they attended five baseball games that their grandson played in. Betty Beenblossom and Reid Orris have spent many week nights at ball fields recently to watch grandchildren participate on the field.

A June birthday party was held in the Health Center for those celebrating birthdays this month including Fran Ray and Stanley Burkholder. United Presbyterian Church Circle 3 provided treats for the celebration. Dwain Burkholder traveled from Florida to share in the birthday celebration and spend time with parents, Stanley and Elsie Burkholder.

Jane Schafnit of West Liberty came to town on Wednesday to visit her friend Jane Vetter. They spent the time visiting about the good times they shared as classmates of West Liberty Class of 1949.

Classics Et Cetera for June 18, included the Overture to ?Le Magnifique? by André Grétry; choral number from ?The Bartered Bride? by Bed?ich Smetana, performed by The Boni Peuri Czech Boys? Choir; Bassoon Concerto in C Minor by Antonio Vivaldi; ?Kitten on the Keys? by Zez Confrey; 3rd Movement of Violin Concerto No. 3 by Camille Saint-Saëns; ?Minneapolis Exposition,? a march by Thomas Preston Brooks.

Beethoven was not the only great composer who became deaf. Bed?ich Smetana (1824-1884) is known as the founding father of Czech music. Born in Prague, he briefly aided the European uprisings of 1848, then moved to Sweden for several years before returning to Prague for good in 1861. He composed operas and tone poems featuring the country?s beautiful landscape and family life, all of which endeared him to his countrymen. By 1874 he was deaf. Ten years later he was confined to an asylum, where he soon died.