Kiwanis
The weekly Kiwanis meeting was held 12:05 p.m. Tuesday, June 27, at the Windrow meeting room with 22 members and one guest. President Chris Eaton presided, Jim Nelson gave the prayer and Bob Miller was the finemaster.
The program was given by Scott Driskell, president of Creston Little League Softball and Baseball. He discussed how the season was going, improvements to the ballfields and how the organization was going to use the Levine and Kiwanis donation of more than $1,600 to help improve McKinley baseball field. There is even a Little League White Sox Baseball team this year in memory of Kiwanis member Ron Levine.
The club and members of the Levine family presented the check to Creston Little League after the meeting at Ron Levine’s memorial bench at Bill Sears Field.
Club members hosted Open Table on June 27.
Kiwanis will also help with organizing the Fourth of July parade and putting up and taking down flags on the Fourth. The club will also be in the parade passing out candy.
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Union County Genealogical Society
The Union County Genealogical Society met 6 p.m. June 26 at Gibson Memorial Library. The meeting was called to order by President Jane Briley.
It was reported Union County Courthouse will no longer keep copies of wills as they have run out of storage space. The genealogical society will accept physical possession of the wills with the intent of copying them and making them available on the new website.
Volunteers are continuing to transcribe cemetery records.
Guest Peg Anderson, a member of the library capital campaign committee, reported on a recent meeting of committee members with Briley regarding plans for a cemetery walk. This fundraiser has been tentatively set for 5:30 p.m. Sept. 23 at Graceland Cemetery. It would be a joint effort by both the capitol campaign committee and genealogy society. The price per ticket would be $10. Graceland Cemetery Board has requested family members of the deceased be contacted for their approval before inclusion in the cemetery walk. Several individuals and families were suggested for portrayal. Six will be selected that are in walking distance of each other within the cemetery.
Kathy reported she had come into possession of numerous old unidentified photos. They will be displayed at the genealogy booth at the Union County Fair in hopes they can be identified and reunited with descendants.
A unique photo opportunity will also be available at the genealogy booth. Use of the backdrop will be on a donation basis.
Eight members answered roll call to the question, “What will you be entering in the genealogy and history division of the Union County Fair?” Roger had to leave before roll call.
Lynn Schlaht presented the program on getting ready for the fair. She displayed six personal fair entries that had won blue ribbons. She read the accompanying index card for each entry noting what information made this entry significant. She passed each member a copy of the official fair book which included a listing of the rules and divisions for this year’s fair. Check in for genealogy and history department entries will be from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday, July 20, or from 8 to 11 a.m. Friday, July 21. The entry fee is 50 cents per entry. Judging will begin 11 a.m. July 21. Entries will be released from 8 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 26.
The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
The next meeting will be 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 27, in the genealogy room at the library. Roll call will be answered to your favorite website. Tessa Hull will present the program on free genealogical websites.
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Afton Federated Garden Club
On June 9, 10 members of Afton Federated Garden Club met and carpooled to Osceola for the annual tour planned by Bev Rowe. Members stopped at Kale’s Funeral Home to view their beautiful water feature. Next, they visited the community gardens and enjoyed the grounds and the individual garden plots.
The hostesses gave members a sample of Acai berry and apple juice drink, which was really good. The next stop was Beth Brown’s home where her shade gardens and her injured bird’s sanctuary were viewed. The group had lunch and shopped at Timber Ridge Market on the square, then met with Mike Bolden who told about the rain garden and other plantings at the courthouse. Bolden then took members to view the flower beds at the library and the depot with some interesting history about each.
From there, Bolden arranged for the club to visit several beautiful home flower gardens. Mike really made the tour memorable. A trip to Junction Creamery for ice cream and then home.
The next regular meeting will be July 14 at the home of Jane Nicholas in Prescott. Nicholas and Carolyn Hubatka will be the hostesses and also have the program on water quality and conservation. The garden therapy report will be given by Donna Thomas. The July meeting has been changed to July 7.
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Iowa Alpha Sigma Master
Iowa Alpha Sigma Master Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi met June 22 at the home of President Loretta Kelly. Seven members answered roll call and shared their plans for the Fourth of July holiday. Minutes of the June 8 meeting were read and approved, bills presented and approved for payment and committee reports noted.
Kelly presented an interesting program about Father’s Day, noting the various histories of the occasion, some dating back to 4,000 years ago, and the customs of observance through the years.
Following the program, the members made nut cups for their service project and enjoyed delicious refreshments served by the hostess.
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P.E.O.
Chapter LG P.E.O. met June 20 at the home of Jodi Paup with Judy Weese assisting as co-hostess. Nineteen members responded to roll call.
Weese read thank-you letters from three high school scholarship recipients. A letter of appreciation was read from the family of Carol Harrison.
A memorial service for sister Carol Harrison was conducted by the officers with heartfelt memories of her work in P.E.O. and her community. Members enjoyed a special treat of caramel corn from Carol’s own recipe. This treat was famous in her community.
Two new members were installed into P.E.O. Chapter LG; members welcome Pat Butcher and Ashely Haines.
Marcia Riley led discussion and selection of volunteer opportunities for the 2019 P.E.O. Sesquicentennial Celebration in Des Moines.
The 2016 Iowa P.E.O. convention delegate Susan Weight reported on the 2016 convention held in Des Moines earlier in June. She found the 2016 president’s speech humorous and Molly Cooney’s speech about breaking the glass ceiling of television very motivational. A 2016 convention T-shirt was given away to a member by a drawing.
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Ladies Lakeshore Auxiliary
Ladies Lakeshore Auxiliary met June 28.
Canasta winners were Cheri Lilly, first; Marilyn Larimore, second; and Sherry Parrot, third.
Maxine May won the door prize.
Wanda Nash will host cards and chatter Wednesday, July 5.
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Creston Lions Club
Creston Lions Club will offer a taxi service to the community for the Fourth of July celebration. Lion members will operate a van to transport people from Tractor Supply Company parking lot to McKinley Park and back. The service will operate from 1 to 10 p.m. at 30 minute intervals. The service will reduce some traffic around the park and donations would be appreciated for sight and hearing conservation.