March 29, 2024

Club news

Crest Area for Life

Crest Area for Life met 7:30 p.m. Aug. 25 at the Holy Spirit Hall. Seven members were attendance. President Meg Crawford opened up the meeting with the right to life prayer.

Terry Madison read the minutes from the June meeting and June Huewe gave the treasurer’s report. Both were approved.

Velma Riegel sent 24 baby congratulatory cards to new mothers. Crawford gave the political report.

Under new business, Dick and Betty Baker were thanked for driving in the 4th of July parade and the Union County fair parade. Crawford reported the Life Chain will be Oct. 4 in Des Moines.

lowans for Life will have their annual banquet from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 8 at the Holiday Inn on Fleur Drive in Des Moines.

The annual meeting will be Oct. 27 and we discussed a speaker to invite.

The next meeting will be 7:30 p.m. Sept. 22 in the Holy Spirit Hall.

Rich Madison made a motion adjourn, seconded by Huewe.

Crest Area Theatre

The monthly meeting of the Board of Directors of Crest Area Theatre was held Aug. 10. The meeting was called to order at 7:04 p.m. with five board members and three guests present.

Discussion was held on the success of the July production of “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.” They also discussed the purchase of mikes.

The next meeting will be Sept. 8 in the Green Room of SWCC PAC.

Crest Area Theatre seeks to provide an opportunity for creative activity and entertainment in the theatre and to serve the community by combining the talents of local artists for dramatic, cultural and artistic developments. Membership is open to all. Visit the website at crestareatheatre.wordpress.com or the Facebook page for the location of the meetings and to view pictures of past performances.

Union County Genealogical Society

Union County Genealogical Society met Aug. 24 at Gibson Memorial Library. Eight visitors and nine members attended. Roger Nurnberg, assisted by Calvin Huffman, gave the program on “Beginning Genealogy.” This included: why do research, how to research, what to look for, where to search and other sources. They advised starting with the known facts and working back, looking for the unknown. Documenting the source of information was emphasized. A warning was given about misinformation being used as factual.

During the business meeting, Saundra Leininger spoke of her duties as regional representative to the Iowa Genealogical Society. She highlighted upcoming events, such as the State Genealogical Conference Oct. 9-10, and a society management workshop for local chapter officers on Sept. 26.

The next regular meeting is 6 p.m. Sept. 28 at the library. Meetings are open to all interested persons.

Alpha Sigma Master

Alpha Sigma Master chapter of Beta Sigma Phi met Aug. 27 at the home of Martha McAuley with all members present. Roll call was answered with “What’s on your vacation bucket list?”

Cheryl McClure presided and read from the Book of Beta Sigma Phi. A change in September meeting places was announced. The untimely death of McAuley’s nephew was noted.

The program was given by McAuley. She told interesting facts about an ear of corn and about foods and non-foods which contain corn and corn products. Facts about the Capitol building and about famous Iowans were discussed.

Members repeated the closing ritual. McClure will host the Sept. 10 meeting.

DAR, Nancy McKay Harsh Chapter

The meeting was called to order by Chapter Regent Theresa Bahniuk of Lamoni Aug. 8 at 9:30 a.m. at the ISU Annex in Mount Ayr.

Those present were Bahniuk, Cynthia Barbour, Connie Kinkade, Marj Kinkade, Natalie Anderson, Rosalie O’Grady, Darlene Morgan, Jan Morgan, Dorothy Hughes, Nicki Clover and Jolene Richardson as well as new prospects Suzanne Atkinson and Marjorie Hewlett. The roll call topic this month was “What is a historic tour you have been on?”

This month, daughter Richardson gave a report on The World Trade Center before and after 9/11. She shared the emotion and feel of the area before and after and the beauty of the architecture of the new World Trade Center complex. Visiting from Tennessee, she treated attendees with GOO GOO Clusters, a southern confection/chocolate treat.

Members shared the Opening Ritual, followed by the presentation of the President General’s Message by Bahniuk. The National Defense Report was given by Barbour of Van Meter. Minutes from the July meeting were presented by Connie Kinkade of Creston and approved unanimously.

Committee reports were presented. The American Indian moment on Wilma Mankiller was given by Anderson of Lamoni. Commemorative events were presented by Connie Kinkade. The conservation moment was presented by O’Grady. The constitution moment was presented by Bahniuk about constitution week coming up Sept. 17. The women’s issue moment was given by Morgan of Creston, surrounding the emotions of the first day of school for parent and child. Sunshine moment was presented by Marj Kinkade of Creston; members heard about the birthday and get well cards she sent to Victory Smith, Dorothy Hughes, Judith Wachter and Hazel Braby. The chapter history moment was presented by Marj Kinkade. She shared the story of African American singer Marian Anderson who had at one time been denied to sing in Constitutional Hall, and how the Nancy McKay Harsh Chapter was one of the chapters to stand in protest of this decision.

Connie Kinkade gave an update on the board of management meeting attended by herself, Pam Marvin and Jane Briley. Bahniuk gave a business review of Continental Congress.

During new business they discussed in more detail the decorating of windows and other possible displays for Constitution Week in September. Many had displays from previous years and new suggestions were offered.

The closing prayer was offered by chaplain, Connie Kinkade.

DAR is a women’s service organization dedicated to promoting historic preservation, education, patriotism and honoring the patriots of the Revolutionary War. Any woman 18 years of age who has an ancestor who was a patriot in the Revolutionary War is eligible to join DAR and would be welcome at meetings. Contact Marjorie Kinkade, Registrar, or Theresa Bahniuk, Regent, Nancy McKay Harsh Chapter NSDAR.

Creston Lions Club

Creston Lions Club met 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1 at The Pizza Ranch. The meeting was opened by Susan Weight, president, who led the Pledge of Allegiance. Delmer Brown gave the invocation. Tom Braymen introduced Annette Rice, guest speaker. Carol Harrison introduced a guest, Monty Morris.

Following the meal, Rice used PowerPoint pictures and told about a trip she and her husband, Rick, took in July 2014 to the Svalbard archipelago north of Norway. They were in a group of 44 who traveled the area on a Russian ship with a crew of 20. They saw and photographed scenery and wildlife, including polar bears, walrus, reindeer and many kinds of birds.

Weight presided over the business meeting. She read a thank-9you from Ken and Ardie Klemish of Adair who visited the club meeting on Aug. 4. Several upcoming events were discussed. The annual Pork Chop Dinner, sponsored by Lions, Kiwanis and Rotary, is scheduled from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Sept. 17 at McKinley Park. Plans were discussed and tickets are available from club members for $8 each. Committee members are Brown, Scott Busch, Dean Brant, Mike Duckworth and Al Pokorny. Lions Candy Day will be Saturday, Sept. 19 in uptown Creston before the Balloon Days Parade. Members will be selling the candy and accepting donations which go for club projects. Committee members are Roger Turk and Mark Zellmer. Lions voted to help support a new before-school exercise program for children who go to the elementary school.

The Lions KidSight vision screening project for pre-schoolers will be held in Lorimor on Sept. 12, at East Union School on Sept. 21, in Lenox on Sept. 29, and in Creston on Oct. 5. Weight presented pins to Rudy Ehm for 55 years’ membership in Lions, and to Carol Harrison for 20 years’ membership. A pin for 20 years’ membership will be sent to Charles Chester who has moved out of state. Members can order Lions vests and T-shirts. Thanks werde expressed to Braymen and others who helped with the Bloodmobile on Sept. 25.

The drawing was won by Beth Perry. The next meeting will be Oct. 6 with Gary Borcherding and Zellmer on the program committee. The meeting adjourned.

Afton Federated Garden Club

Afton Federated Garden Club members met at 11:30 a.m. Aug. 14 at the Afton City Park for the annual picnic. Fried chicken and a variety of sides provided by members were enjoyed. Dessert was served by hostesses Iris Smith and Judy Weese. We moved to the Afton Community Center for our regular meeting.

President Shirley Wallace called the meeting to order with members repeating the Pledge of Allegiance and the Club Collect. Roll call of “what is your favorite bird?” was answered by 15 members.

Minutes for the meeting were read. Judy Harman made a motion to approve and Karen Van Buskirk seconded it. The treasurers report was given by Wallace, as Bev Rowe was unable to attend. Marilyn Larimore presented a bill for the chicken Kathy Tapken made and Gwen Sandeman seconded the motion to pay the bill.

Cards and gifts chairman Donna Thomas sent July birthday cards to Carolyn Hubatka, Rowe, Vicki Reese and Monica Huddleson.

Monarch Butterfly tagging was Aug. 26 at Criss Cove County Park south of Winterset. Wallace passed out ballots to vote on a club flower and gave results from the floriculture show at the county fair. They had 129 entries—up from 115 last year. Iris Smith and Carolyn Hubatka received the most blue ribbons, and Wallace had an exhibit considered for best of show. Sandra Gossman was thanked for judging the show.

They discussed the sample favor for the district meeting next year that Wallace brought. Weese made the motion to make them and Loretta Kelly seconded it.

They discussed a theme for the fall luncheon. After voting, “all things apple” was the unanimous choice. Wallace is going to see about a speaker and Audrey McDowell is going to check on the availability of the Lorimor City Hall.

The herb of the month was lemon balm. Wallace passed out information on lemon balm and told us the pasta salad she brought for our picnic had lemon balm leaves in it.

Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Donna Thomas and seconded by McDowell. The Conservation Pledge was recited.

Weese gave a very informative design program about the Pearl Fryar Topiary Garden in Bishopville, S.C. The 2006 documentary “A Man Named Pearl” was shown and Weese told more about Pearl and his garden. He started in the early 1980s, while in his 40s, in a cornfield. He planted all the trees and shrubs. Many of those were “throwaways” from a local nursery compost piles. Pearl trims his creations every four to six weeks to maintain their shapes. The garden has over 300 plants, with junk art sculptures throughout.

The next meeting will be 1:30 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Afton Community Center with Huddleson as hostess. Wallace will have the program.