United Presbyterian Home News

About 15 people gathered to hear Presbyterian Church (USA) International Peacemaker, Dr. Tamar Wasoian. Dr. Wasoian is a native of Aleppo, Syria, a city where there is a high concentration of those with Armenian roots. She was in the area at the invitation of the Presbytery of East Iowa and was welcomed at the UP Home as part of an ongoing heritage of connections with places in the world where Presbyterian mission workers have worked. Dr. Wasoian began her presentation telling about her family?s history with the Armenian genocide that took place during World War I. She explained the origin of the expression ?Remember the starving Armenians,? that came out of that time period. Most of her family was able to escape death by fleeing the country, but one grandfather died in the tragedy. They did eventually return to Aleppo but have once again had to leave Syria to be safe as the result of the current political situation in Syria. After coming to Garrett Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois, to study for a doctorate in Christian Education, Dr. Wasoian was unable to return to her native home safely. The rest of her family are now refugees in Sweden, while Dr. Wasoian has stayed in the Chicago area where she is teaching classes at Garrett and McCormick Theological seminaries and volunteering in a YMCA day care. An explanation of the multi-faceted revolution taking place in Syria was accompanied by photos and personal writings of people who have had to flee for safety. Participants had the opportunity to ask questions, as well as share the noon meal with our guest.

Tonnie and Jeana Crile recently returned from a scenic trip into Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin. They were a couple of weeks early for the fall colors in that area but still enjoyed the beautiful scenery of Mackinac Island in Michigan and also the lake views of Wisconsin.

Jim Bennett continued his Sunday birthday celebration when he shared treats with friends and neighbors in the Town Center on Monday morning.

Cottagers met on Monday evening for their monthly social potluck supper in the Campus Center. Hosts for the evening were Ying and Gwen Ying and Carl and Martha Chalupa who also provided the musical entertainment for the evening. September birthdays and anniversaries were celebrated with Don and Ethyl Dayton sharing 72 years of marriage. Wayne Brock reported to the group of his recent trip to Washington, D.C., as part of the Honor Flight.

Esther Bordwell led the book club meeting this month. The mystery was The Cat?s Pajamas by Gilbert Morris. She gave each member slips of paper with names of characters for them to discuss. Two cats were an important part of the story and the group finished the meeting by telling funny cat stories. Next month?s book will be The President?s Club by Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy. This is a nonfiction book that describes how past presidents have helped each other irrespective of political party. President Truman started the club when he asked for help from former President Herbert Hoover. It continues to this day.

WHS Homecoming Court members Andrea Pingol, Michaela Roder, Olivia Postl, Brenna Weidman, Jessie Buchholz, Jose Munoz, Wil Marek, Bryce Sinn and Karlton Skubal visited the UP Home on Wednesday morning as part of their homecoming week activities. Candidates Daniela Diaz Castillo, Kyle Anderson and Aaron Vittetoe were unable to attend. These articulate young people introduced themselves and answered questions posed to them from residents and day care children. They have a busy week of activities with a parade and king and queen coronation to be held on Thursday evening, the football game Friday night at Case Field and a dance in the high school gym Saturday evening.

Helen Dallmeyer shared photos from her high school annual with residents and staff this week. Helen, Birchard Holden and Beulah Temple where all in the same high school class of 1941, which was the first Washington class to hold homecoming festivities in the fall of 1940. Homecoming festivities that year included many floats, speeches and skits along with the coronation of a Homecoming Queen, parade, football game and dance. Helen played clarinet in the band and enjoyed marching in the Homecoming Parade that year.

A buffet of fall foods was prepared by Martin Brothers Foods for residents to sample and then report on likes and dislikes. A variety of foods from soups to main entrees of chicken, fish and egg rolls completed by desserts were professionally served to residents for their review. Favorites were noted and good insight is given to dietary staff for fall menu selections.

Classics Et Cetera for Sept. 29, included the overture to ?Nabucco? by Giuseppe Verdi; Piano Sonata No. 15 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; ?Tambourin Chinois? by Fritz Kreisler; ?The Carnival of Venice? for cornet and concert band by Jean-Baptiste Arban; 2nd Movement of Piano Concerto No. 1 by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky; Éljen a Magyar!? fast polka by Johann Strauss Jr.

Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893), had a platonic relationship with a very wealthy widow, Mme. Nadezhda von Meck, that lasted nearly 14 years. A devotee of music, she even had her own chamber ensemble at her home. She gave Tchaikovsky a stipend that freed him wholly for composition for the first time, and their correspondence of several hundred letters revealed their innermost thoughts and feelings on almost every subject to each other. They agreed never to meet, and they never did. What happened to their relationship is still in question, but she broke it off in 1890. He died in 1893, and she died only a few months later.