March 28, 2024

Club news

Kiwanis

The weekly Kiwanis meeting was held 12:05 p.m. Tuesday, April 9, at the Windrow meeting room with 22 members and one guest. President Terry Freeman presided, David Hargrove gave the prayer and Roger Lanning was the finemaster.

The program was given by Tim Kenyon. Kenyon has been full-time Union County Attorney since 1989. He talked about his schooling and gave updates on some pending cases. He handles everything from traffic tickets to homicides. He shared with us that almost 40% of his workload today are juvenile delinquent cases. He said people are fortunate in Union County we don’t have a lot of “evil” people or a rash of major crimes. The lack of violent crimes has led Creston to be named the 17th safest city in Iowa.

— — — — — —

Creston Lions

Creston Lions met Tuesday evening, April 2, at the Pizza Ranch. First vice president, Derek Thompson, opened the meeting and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Stew Stewart gave the invocation.

Following the meal, Dean Brant introduced guest speaker Ginny Lents, dietitian at Greater Regional Health. She explained information on a hand-out from the American Heart Association entitled Healthy Diet Guidelines. She also discussed cholesterol and triglycerides and what test results mean. Often diabetes and heart problem symptoms are interconnected. Maintaining a healthy body weight is strongly recommended for overall health.

Thompson presided over the business meeting. The reports from secretary Susan Weight and treasurer Tom Braymen were presented and approved. Jerry Katzer and Gary Borcherding discussed plans for a meal being planned by the Lions, Kiwanis and Rotary clubs which will be served Saturday, July 6, in connection with the Creston Sesquicentennial celebration. Several other activities will be held in town that same evening.

Brant presented Katzer a patch for the Lions banner in recognition of club participation, when Lions International observed its centennial in 2017. Katzer was president of the Creston club at that time. Brant also announced and encouraged attendance at the Iowa Lions Annual State Convention scheduled for June 6-8 in Cedar Rapids. Creston is eligible to send four voting delegates. Also discussed was information about Lions grant funds, which are available for flood relief in Iowa and Nebraska.

There will be training meetings for new officers in June at Exira and Guthrie Center. An appeal from officials in Mills County for help with flood recovery was explained. The Creston club voted to send a monetary donation to the Iowa 9SW District for flood relief. The directors will meet May 1 at Stewart’s office. The next regular club meeting will be 6:30 p.m. May 7 at the Pizza Ranch.

Creston Lions Club was chartered 67 years ago on April 18, 1952. Prospective members are invited to contact Stewart at 641-344-1347.

— — — — — —

Ladies Literary Circle

A reader loves to share books. Such is the case when Ladies Literary Circle met April 5 in Judith Wachter’s home. Just inside the door, Wachter had a table piled high of her “must read” books she wanted to gift to members. Her collection was impressive, covering classics to contemporary plus a beautiful collection of British works. Following roll call and the secretary and treasurer’s reports, President Stephani Finley called on the nominating committee to announce new officers for the 2019-20 year. They are president, Finley; vice-president, Bailey Poolman; secretary, Linda Hartsock; treasurer, Joanne Gibson; and historians, Connie Purdum and Dora Coen. Planning for next year’s agenda, members are reminded to sign up for hostess and review dates. Also, commitments are requested for the May luncheon. The meeting was then turned over to the program committee.

Long-time member since 1978, Judy Gile introduced the 14 members present to the non-fiction book, “Give Me My Father’s Body” by Kenn Harper. This true tale is about one survivor of a group of Polar Eskimos brought back to America as souvenirs by Admiral Peary. Even though the book was published in 1983, to this day America’s history books fail to acknowledge the dark period in history of American museums and anthropology centered on the life of Minik Wallace, an Eskimo Inuit boy taken from his home to be a specimen for study.

The last regular meeting for this season is April 12 at Hartsock’s home with Ann Driskell giving the review.

— — — — — —

Book Club

The Book Club met March 4 at the home of Velma Riegel. Meg Crawford conducted the meeting. Minutes of the March meeting were read and approved. The treasurer’s report was given.

Crawford reported she contacted the library about the use of the club’s donation of last year. They used it to buy five books – “Louis On the Front Lines” by Samantha Seiple, “Silent Night” by Danielle Steel, “Island of Sea Women” by Lisa See, “Girl, Stop Apologizing” by Rachel Hollis and “The Real Wallis Simpson” by Anna Pasternax. Each book has a note inside the cover saying it was donated by the Book Club. Crawford encouraged the members to check out the books.

Discussion was held about this year’s donation. It was tabled until the May meeting. Roll call was taken with eight members in attendance.

Books read (plus the all-read) since the last meeting were “Hidden Among the Stars” by Melanie Dobson, “I Owe You One” by Sophie Kinsella, “The Timekeeper” by Mitch Albom, “The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake” by Aimee Bender, “A Week in Winter” by Maeve Binchy, “The Richest Season” by Mary Ann McFadden, “It All Comes Back to You” by Beth Dake, “The Next Thing on My List” by Jill Smolinski, “The Fixer Upper” by Mary Kay Andrews, “Bleak House” by Charles Dickens, “Finding Joy When Life is Out of Focus” by Angela Donadio, “Adored by the God Who Sees” by Kerry Clarensan and Kay Burnett, “The Last Waltz” by John Suchet, “Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens, “A Mother’s Ordeal” by Steven W. Mosher, “The Librarian of Auschwitz” by Antonio Sturbe and “To Heaven and Back” by Mary C. Neal M.D.

The business meeting was adjourned. Crawford then facilitated a discussion of the book, “The Hundred-Foot Journey” by Richard C. Morais.

Born above his grandfather’s modest restaurant in Mumbai, Hassan Haji first experienced life through intoxicating whiffs of spicy fish curry, trips to the local markets and gourmet outings with his mother. When tragedy pushes the family out of India, they console themselves by eating their way around the World before settling in Lumier’e, a small village in the French Alps. The boisterous Haji family takes Lumier’e by storm, opening an inexpensive Indian Restaurant opposite the esteemed French Restaurant of the famous Chet Madame Mallory. Interaction between the two families makes a lively story.

The Book Club members discussed the different characters and expressed their anticipation of viewing the movie at the next meeting to compare how well it follows the book and any changes that are made.

Refreshments were served by the hostess. The next meeting will be 6 p.m. Monday, May 6, at the home of Crawford. It will be movie night with the “Hundred Foot Journey.” Members are asked to bring a snack to share.

— — — — — —

DWF Executive Committee

The DWF Executive Committee met 10 a.m. Thursday, April 4, at First Christian Church Disciples of Christ. Four members were in attendance.

The meeting opened with the DWF prayer. The minutes were read and approved. The treasurer’s report was given and approved.

Old business: Scholarship fund is at $1,009.74. The Lenten service was March 31 at the church. Ham and chicken salad sandwiches were served with chips and cookies. Plates were also taken to Shirley Ray and Bill and Pat Fils. Members served 93.

New business: Ten people are needed to help with “Feeding the Heartland” the later part of April at SWCC. Nine coffee decanters have been purchased for the kitchen. The May breakfast will be May 2 at the church.

Committee reports: Irene Francis has some boxtops to turn into the school.

The meeting adjourned. The next meeting will be Thursday, May 16, at the church.

— — — — — —

P.E.O.

The regular business meeting of Chapter AZ was 5:30 p.m. April 2 at the home of Cheryl Wilson with Joan Chubick as co-hostess.

By general consent, Jody Emerson served as president and Sharon Booth served as vice president. Twenty members responded to roll call.

The next regular meeting will be April 16 at the home of Kay Kinsella with Connie Purdum as co-hostess. The spring social meeting has been confirmed for May 21 – a tour of Corning Opera House and dinner. The cost will be $15 for the meal and $5 donation for the tour.

Members were asked to fill out a volunteer form for the trunk sale and return it to Nancy Loudon.

Sandy Stalker gave the program on influential women in her family.

— — — — — —

Crest Area Theatre

Nine Crest Area Theatre members attended the April 1 meeting at YMCA. The group welcomed Becky Elefson as a new member.

John Calahan announced auditions for the “The Music Man: Concert Version” will begin 6:30 p.m Tuesday, April 23, and Thursday, April 25, on the stage of the Performing Arts Center at the YMCA. April 23 tryouts are for all ages and April 25 will be for children under age 15. The production date is Sunday, June 30, at the McKinley Park Bandshell. Calahan is the director and for any questions, call 712-204-6716 or email john.cala55@gmail.com.

All auditioners are asked to prepare a short (16 measure) excerpt from a song, preferably in musical theatre style. Auditions will also include a dancing and acting component. A stereo will be provided for accompaniment tracks.

A total of 30 to 40 actors/singers are needed including parts for 10 elementary-aged children. Prior theatre/choral experience is encouraged, but not required.

Other theater items were tabled until the next meeting 7 p.m. Monday, May 6, on the stage at the Y. Anyone interested in any aspect of theatre is invited to attend.

— — — — — —

Ladies Lakeshore Auxiliary

Ladies Lakeshore Auxiliary met April 10.

Canasta winners were Mary Kline, first; Marilyn Larimore, second; and Cheri Lilly, third.

Wanda Nash won the door prize.

Cards and chatter will hold a guest day Wednesday, April 17.