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AARP held a Driver Safety class at the United Presbyterian Home April 23, 2019 graduating 18 community members ranging in age from 61 to 90 years of age. The class taught by Larry Neppl of Marion, Iowa gave instructions on how to be a better defensive driver and offered tips on how to deal with round-a-bouts which are becoming more popular in cities. Participants report the class offered suggestions on how to improve their awareness in watching for and dealing with issues. They also learned of new rules and regulations and half of the graduates report they will benefit from reduced insurance premiums.

Where were you when the boom struck? That was the question posed to residents of the United Presbyterian Home on Tuesday morning following the thunderous lightning strike which stripped the bark and split a large evergreen tree between Maple and Willow streets causing havoc with electrical equipment and phone lines for blocks away. The question was always followed with a response of how it moved people in their seat or brought them to their feet with the hairs on their skin standing on end. One maintenance man working just yards away was visibly shaken hours later. That was too close for comfort! Fortunately no one was injured and on a positive side we hear that the sale of electronic equipment in Washington has surged in the last couple of days. Good for the merchants, bad for the homeowner.

Many residents were the recipients of May baskets from young people who are still being taught the tradition of anonymously delivering small homemade baskets filled with treats and flowers to friends and neighbors. Twins Sophia and Olivia Lujan were caught making deliveries with the aid of Grandma Marde McConnell. The twins were greeted at one residence by another set of twins with conversation to follow. Four generations of the Doris Moore family shared in the delivery when Doris, her daughter Peg; granddaughter Carrie and great-grandson Thomas arrived with May baskets accompanied by warm greetings and hugs which is far better than the old delivery version of secretively ringing the doorbell and running to keep the gift anonymous. Third floor Kerr Hall residents found baskets outside their door compliments of a sly neighbor who hoped to remain anonymous except that she got caught ringing doorbells. While the baskets are small, the sentiment of remembering someone is huge. Receiving a May basket always brightens the day of the receiver.

Pat Jenkins celebrated her birthday in the Town Center Wednesday morning sharing cinnamon rolls with the large crowd of friends and neighbors in attendance.

Classics Et Cetera for May 2, 2019 included the overture to the 'Royal Fireworks Music” by George Frideric Handel; 'Italian Serenade” by Hugo Wolf; Waltz Nos. 5 & 6 by Frederic Chopin; 'Once in Love with Amy” from 'Where's Charlie?” by Frank Loesser and sung by Ray Bolger; Nos. 2 & 3 from 'Sigurd Jorsalfar Suite” by Edvard Grieg; 'Unsere Marine” march by Richard Thiele.

In 1748 seven years after George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) had composed his great oratorio 'Messiah,” a massive fireworks display in a London park was planned to celebrate the peace treaty following the eight-year War of Austrian Succession that had engaged much of Europe. Handel was asked to write appropriate music for it and he responded with an overture and for numbers for an orchestra of 55 wind instruments plus percussion-no strings, because of King George II's preference for winds. Handel's half-hour of music was especially praised, but rain threatened the entire day and the fireworks pavilion caught fire, causing a massive panic.