UP Home News

The United Presbyterian Home celebrated Senior Prom with a Wild Safari theme on Thursday evening in the Main Dining Room accessible only after making their way past a jungle of wild animals. Residents dressed in costumes of leopard print and khaki style clothing, accessorizing with binoculars and straw hats, and mingled among the elephants, lions, and giraffes. Best dressed for the evening may have been Herb Yoder and Dorothy Koehler. It appeared that they had just returned from a safari adventure with Herb dressed in khaki shorts and a leopard skin belt, a lampshade over his head resembling a safari head shade and a crocodile slung over his shoulder that he must have wrestled to the death.

Dorothy still had her rifle in one hand and a trophy boa constrictor over her shoulder. Many had their picture taken in the safari jeep parked outside in the desert and now posted on the United Presbyterian Home Web site. They feasted on porcupine meatballs, crocodile skewers, monkey bread, hippo dip and zebra cakes compliments of inventive Chef Corey Evans and the dietary staff. The creative talents of Elizabeth Tschantz, Carol Enfield and their committee members provided the fun decorations and service.

Easy Jones entertained friends and buddies on Saturday when he hosted a coffee in the dining room. Easy reports about 18 men and women attended. Stories were told, laughter was heard and friendships reacquainted.

Residents viewed a PowerPoint presentation from Stewart School Principal, Adam Miller concerning the Washington Early Learning Center proposal in the Main Dining Room Wednesday morning. Principal Miller is a member of The Friends of Washington Early Learning Center Committee, educating the community about the upcoming bond vote on June 30.

Young people participating in the Day Care Summer Kids Program planted a variety of pumpkins and gourds in the community garden this week. Brady Krantz, Ben Kronaloge, Chase Jones, Izzy Jones and Myla Vicker planted mounds of Jack o' Lantern pumpkins, pie pumpkins and a mini version as well as a variety of odd-shaped gourds. They intend to care for the plants this growing season and harvest in the fall.

Classics Et Cetera for June 4, 2015, included the Overture to ?Utopia, Limited? by Sir Arthur Sullivan; 2 selections from ?The Little Book of Louis Moreau Gottschalk; ?Nessun dorma? from ?Turandot? by Giacomo Puccini, performed by Luciano Pavarotti, tenor; ?Till Eulenspiegel?s Merry Pranks? by Richard Strauss; ?I?ll Be Seeing You? performed by the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra with Frank Sinatra, vocal; 1st Movement of Violin Concerto No. 3 by Camille Saint-Saëns; ?The Bride Elect,? a march by John Philip Sousa

The French composer, Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) was a true Renaissance Man. He was a brilliant pianist and organist, a poet, critic, travel writer, playwright; and an authority on philosophy, science, painting, mathematics and literature. He made his formal debut at age 10, playing piano works of Mozart, Bach and Handel. For an encore he volunteered to play any of Beethoven?s 32 piano sonatas from memory. By the time he died at age 86 he had composed hundreds of works ? operas, symphonies, concertos, symphonic poems, and much more.