St. Luke Living Center News
By AMELIA VINDUSKA and SUE GUTSCH
Contributing writers
The front of this past week's Marion County Record held exciting news for us. During current events on Wednesday, we read about the plans of St. Luke Hospital Auxiliary to purchase a vehicle to be used by residents for outings. This activity has been seriously missed for many months. We're grateful the thrift shop has been so successful and utilized by the community. We realize it takes many hours by volunteers.
Thursday's schedule was jam-packed with activities which were entertaining, informative, and filling.
Eight members of the resident council met in the morning and made plans to create a fall scene in the front yard. We hope to decorate with bales of hay, corn stalks, pumpkins, and some not-so-scary scarecrows. The dietary department asked for ideas from residents on new and different snacks which would also be low in calories.
A large group of "lunch bunchers" made a trip to eat a noon meal away from the center. Volunteers Joann Fitzpatrick, Shirley Bowers, and our own Khrista Branson provided vehicles. Residents who went on the outing were Mel Brewer, Doris Hett, Dick Goering, Pearl Baxter, Lydia Batt, and Amelia Vinduska.
At 3 p.m., Bennie Holtsclaw and his guitar arrived for an enjoyable concert which included gospel, country and bluegrass music, and some old songs that evolved into a sing-a-long. His repertoire also included some songs that Bennie had written. We appreciate him being at the center and visiting with us after the performance.
The final activity of the day was after our evening meal. We listened to the Morning Star Church youth group of Durham sing their songs of faith.
Gene Vinduska brought his accordion and began what is billed as "polka hour" at about 9 a.m. Saturday. Gene's repertoire included more than polkas, although they do seem to be a crowd favorite. We served chocolate chip cookies we had baked Friday morning.
Several residents viewed the Old Settlers' Day parade in person Saturday morning. Jim Helfer and Pearl Baxter rode downtown in a van driven by volunteer Al Ash and accompanied by Sue Gutsch. Others who attended the parade with family members were Phyllis Enos, Mel Brewer, and Doris Hett. Our hearts swelled with pride as Molly Holub rode by in uniform. Many other residents watched the parade on television, which they enjoyed and appreciated.
Larry King of Good News Christian Fellowship Church of Marion was our guest minister Sunday afternoon.
Shirley Bowers accepted an invitation to fill in for Ellen Darrow Monday afternoon and we enjoyed an old-time sing-a-long. Knowing the older generation knows songs that are not getting much "play" time these days, Shirley spent considerable time assembling folders with the words of many familiar old tunes such as "Daisy, Daisy," "Old Folks At Home," "Mary Is A Grand Old Name," and "Oh, Susanna."
Rev. Mike Eurit of Eastmoor United Methodist Church was here Monday afternoon and brought communion to residents.
We played our version of categories again Tuesday morning. Nancy Methvin and Karon Hess assisted us as we struggled to list Indian tribes. We were better prepared at naming things seen in the sky, things you read, and breeds of dogs.
That afternoon we finished reading Little House in the Big Woods as the Ingalls family left their little house and families in Wisconsin. We followed their travels as they headed west to the Little House on the Prairie.
