Sometimes I wish Paul Harvey were around to tell me the rest of the story.
In the case of Bette Hart’s 90th birthday, when I asked friends to remember her on her big day, Hart’s daughter, Jane Mercer, took on Harvey’s duties.
Friends came through in spades, sending flowers and cards galore. She even had a yummy cake and a visit from a close friend and almost nonagenarian herself Barbara Denk.
After writing the story about the Music & Memory program, which has found creating personalized music playlists can brighten the gray days of dementia and Alzheimer’s patients, I realized how easy it is to forget people living in long-term care facilities. Or maybe it’s how much we want to forget, because it’s a reminder that we, too, may one day need that kind of care.
“Alive Inside,” which was the documentary made about the Music & Memory program, has some insightful commentary on aging in America and some questions about what will happen as the baby boomer generation – my generation – hits that age. It’s not pretty – and I don’t mean aging, which can be undertaken with grace and aplomb, as I see every day when I’m out and about. I mean our lack of adequate facilities, the shrinking number of gerontologists, at a time when the need is only growing and our lack of appreciation for our elders, which are all things we as a society need to start considering. Especially because I wouldn’t mind being appreciated for my wisdom!
So thanks to all of you for remembering Hart and for reminding me to bring up the idea that we all need to be kinder and more present in our elders’ lives.
HHH
Wishing for a little precipitation to round out their birthdays are Allison Barker, Stella Best, Rachel Overington, David Smith, Cheryle Brandsma, Rebecca Awe, Ian Gordon, Staci Latham, Randy Glenn, Martina Pansze, Mary Gilley, Joan Dombrowski, Laura Freitag, Donna Alsdurf, Rod Stockton, Tanya Mayberry, George Mayberry, Patricia Montonera, Feather Smith and Karson Harbison.
Special greetings go to Joe Silva, who at 47 in each leg or 94 in human years, is still going bowling with his granddaughters.
HHH
Most of the time, when nonprofits plan a fundraiser, they spend months preparing and organizing every detail, always keeping fingers crossed that it will make decent money.
But the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and Sky Ute Casino Resort want to make it a little easier – no planning needed.
They’re getting ready to hold their 16th annual Nonprofit Money Booth on May 14.
The evening starts with a reception, where the selected nonprofits are presented a check for $500. Then it’s into the booth, where nonprofits send a representative in to grab as much of the available $20,000 as they can in 45 seconds.
Marketing coordinator Tracy Leppert said recipients average about $1,000, which isn’t chump change. In the first 15 years, the tribe and the casino have given away almost $275,000 through the money booth. That’s definitely not chump change.
Last year’s recipients were Community Connections, Friends of the Pine River Library, The Bayfield/Ignacio Adult Learning Center, Upper Pine River Fire Auxiliary, Regional Substance Abuse Prevention Partners, St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, Silver Supplemental Program & Resources Utilized in Curriculum Education Academy, Heart Safe La Plata, Durango Shin-Budo Kai Akido, Four Corners Blue Star Mothers New Mexico No. 1, Tiffany-Arboles-Rosa-Allison Historical Society at Navajo Reservoir, the Durango Food Bank, Ignacio Community Church and the Southern Ute Community Action Programs Wildcats Basketball Program.
So why am I writing about this now?
It’s time for nonprofits to apply to be one of this year’s recipients. In general, they prefer to award the money-booth opportunity to nonprofits in La Plata and Archuleta counties as well as San Juan County, New Mexico, but Leppert said if a really worthy cause in San Juan County came in, they’d consider it.
Applications are available at www.skyutecasino.com and must be turned in no later than 4 p.m. May 1. For more information, or to have an application faxed or emailed, contact Leppert at 563-1752 or tracy.leppert@skyutecasino.org.
I may have lied. Some planning may be required. After all, the nonprofits will have to strategize on who they will send into the booth to maximize their odds for big cash. I’m not sure if one can practice, but someone with quick reflexes and keen eye sight would seem to be ideal.
HHH
Sometimes the rapid pace at the Herald means I miss something important, and that definitely happened April 7. The Friends of the Durango Public Library dedicated a stone in the form of a book to the late Lela Boyer in the Durango Botanical Society’s demonstration garden behind the library before its meeting that day. Her husband, Bob Boyer, was on hand for the occasion.
To say Boyer was a dedicated volunteer is an understatement of massive proportions. She spent at least 30 hours a week sorting books and managing the Friends’ bookstore at the library, the organization’s primary fundraiser. The other main fundraiser is the books-by-the-pounds sales held periodically throughout the year, and Boyer was a lead organizer there, too.
The Friends renamed its bookstore Lela’ Place in Boyer’s honor in November, and the combination of the bookstore and Common Grounds Café make it one of the most positive places in town. If you haven’t checked out the northern end of the library foyer, you should, especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. weekdays.
In other Friends of the Library news, the mid-March booksale, organized by Maile Kane and Rose Niderauer, was a roaring success, raising almost $3,650.
In the last four years, the Friends have invested more than $120,000 in our library, providing programs and technology not covered in the library’s budget.
That makes every book purchased from them guilt-free. You’re not overloading your bookshelves, you’re investing in the library. Plus, you can donate them back after you finish reading them.
Books must be in good condition, not old textbooks or mildewed books that were Book-of-the-Month entries 30 years ago.
HHH
The Reading Club of Durango, since it’s very beginning in 1882, has not just been about loving books but about a desire to learn.
The club picks a theme every year to study. This year’s is Canada. Members can approach it from their personal interests, either exploring something they’ve always wanted to know more about or sharing something they already love.
Pam Furze took the latter approach Thursday at the home of Lou Falkenstein, exploring the life and imaginary world of popular Canadian mystery writer Louise Penny. This was a bit of a departure for Furze, who has previously explored literary heavyweights such as Henry James in programs, but she gave Penny the same thoughtful approach as in other programs.
Furze is also thoughtful in her approach to technology. As members did in days of yore, she gave her program from handwritten notes, and she doesn’t own a microwave, she said. Food for thought, pun intended.
As an avid mystery reader and journalist myself, it was fun to learn about Penny’s background and the world she has created in a mythical town called Three Pines. I imagine Furze particularly likes Three Pines because its geography precludes cellphone and the Internet, keeping it a place apart.
Furze also delivered one of the best lines ever: “Three Pines is the perfect place to go. A perfect bed and breakfast, perfect coffee, perfect baguettes and the perfect Brie. And, of course, there’s murder.”
Also at the meeting, Beverly Darmour announced that her daughter Maureen “Reenie” Neal had an essay published in High Country News in mid-March. Called “A giant resort overshadows a tiny Colorado town,” it’s a look at Gateway in Mesa County, about 55 miles southwest of Grand Junction. Neal taught there in 1985-86 and has a unique perspective on what happens to a small town that undergoes a seismic shift.
HHH
The weather’s perfect for a scenic hike for the anniversaries of George and Melodie San Miguel and Michael and Linda Buehler.
HHH
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