A man on his Harley was riding along a California beach when suddenly the sky clouded above his head and, in a booming voice, the Lord said, “Because you have tried to be faithful to me in all ways, I will grant you one wish.”
The biker pulled over and said, “Build a bridge to Hawaii so I can ride over anytime I want.”
The Lord said, “Your request is materialistic. Think of the enormous challenges for that kind of undertaking; the supports required reaching the bottom of the Pacific and the concrete and steel it would take! It will nearly exhaust several natural resources. I can do it, but it is hard for me to justify your desire. Take a little more time and think of something that could possibly help mankind.”
The biker thought about it for a long time.
Finally, he said, “Lord, I wish that I and all men could understand women. I want to know how she feels inside, what she’s thinking when she gives me the silent treatment, why she cries, what she means when she says nothings wrong, and how I can make a woman truly happy.”
The Lord replied, “You want two lanes or four on that bridge?”
The 35th President (John F. Kennedy) has been one of the most popular. He was a visionary who cared for his country and had a deep appreciation for advancement and peace. He said some profound things that are so relevant today:
"Every American ought to have the right to be treated as he would like to be treated, as one would wish to be treated, as one would wish his children to be treated.
A man does what he must - in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles, dangers and pressures, and that is the basis of all human morality.
If by a "Liberal" they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people - their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights and their civil liberties - someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a "Liberal" then I'm proud to say I'm a "Liberal."
Those who make peaceful resolution impossible will make violent resolution inevitable.
Change is the law of life. Those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future.
The Constitution makes us not rivals for power, but partners for progress.
Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind.
If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.
We must face problems which do not lend themselves to easy, quick or permanent solutions."
I hope you can help me here. The other day I set off for work leaving my husband in the house watching the TV as usual. I hadn’t gone more than a mile down the road when my engine died and the car shuddered to a halt. I walked back home to get my husband’s help. When I got home I couldn’t believe my eyes. He was in the bedroom with a neighbor lady making mad passionate love to her. I am 32, my husband is 34 and we have been married for twelve years. When I confronted him, he broke down and admitted that he’d been having an affair for the past six months.
I told him to stop or I would leave him. He was let go from his job six months ago and he says he has been feeling increasingly depressed and worthless. I love him very much, but ever since I gave him the ultimatum he has become increasingly distant. I don’t feel I can get through to him anymore.
Can you please help? I am desperate.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Smith
Dear Mrs. Smith:
Don't despair. A car stalling after being driven a short distance can be caused by a variety of faults with the engine. Start by checking that there is no debris in the fuel line. If it is clear, check the jubilee clips holding the vacuum pipes onto the inlet manifold. If none of these approaches solves the problem, it could be that the fuel pump itself is faulty, causing low delivery pressure to the carburetor float chamber.
For those old enough to remember, and those young ones who never experienced it:
1. it took five minutes for the television to warm up? 2. nearly everyone's mom was at home when the kids got home from school? 3. nobody owned a purebred dog? 4. when a quarter was a decent allowance? 5. your mom wore nylons that came in two pieces? 6. all male teachers wore neckties and female teachers wore high heels? 7. you got your windshield cleaned, oil checked, gas pumped, all for free, and air for your tires was free? 8. laundry detergent had free glasses, dishes or towels hidden inside the box? 9. it was considered a great privilege to be taken out to dinner at a real restaurant with your parents? 10. they threatened to keep kids back a grade if they failed - and they did? 11. when a 57 Chevy was a dream car? 12. stuff from the store came without safety caps because no one had tried to poison a perfect stranger? 13. when being sent to the principal's office was nothing compared to the fate that awaited us at home? 14. Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, Laurel and Hardy, Howdy Dowdy and the Peanut Gallery, the Lone Ranger, The Shadow Knows, Nellie Bell, Roy and Dale, Trigger and Buttermilk? 15. when the perfect age was between old enough to know better and too young to care? 16. home milk delivery in glass bottles with cardboard stoppers? 17. telephone party lines? 18. peashooters, green stamps, P.F.Fliers, roller skate keys, cork pop guns, washtub wringers, Studebakers, the Fuller Brush man, Tinkertoys, Lincoln Logs? 19. race issues meant arguing about who ran the fastest? 20. being caught with a weapon in school meant a slingshot? 21. oly-oly-oxen-free made sense? 22. water balloons were the ultimate weapon?
If you can remember most or all of these, then you have lived!!
Open your arms to change, but never let go of your values. When you say, "I love you," mean it. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
Talk slow but think quick. Memorize your favorite poem. Don't judge people by their relatives.
Never laugh at anyone's dreams. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt, but it's the only way to live life completely. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
Spend some time alone. Read between the lines. Never interrupt when you are being flattered.
Mind your own business. At least once a year, go someplace you've never been before. Remember the three R's: Respect for yourself; Respect for others; Responsibility for all your actions.
I have always admired a specific tree in town. It's a very special tree for me and I look forward to its appearance each year. It hides during the winter in its special place with the cars in a garage. Like me, it's sensitive to temperatures, but thrives when all elements are right.
This Schefflera plant, also known as the umbrella plant, has beautiful dark green leaves which form "fingers" in a circle. Well cared for, this plant will grow for years. It must be repotted into a larger pot the bigger it grows. The plant must be fertilized each month and the under side of the leaves watched for spider mites which need to be immediately treated with a pesticide. The plant's growth slows down as it goes dormant during its winter indoor storage.
I have watched this tree grow year after year. I drive by to just look at it as much as I can. The tree's owner is a long-time friend and he knows of my admiration for his tree.
I must admire it from afar, because I don't have the space for one at my home - and I don't have access to a bobcat or loader. This tree is so big and so heavy that it must be transported in and out of its winter storage via a piece of heavy equipment.
From Mother's Day in May to whenever the weather starts to turn chilly in the fall, this majestic tree stands tall on the porch of Kirkpatrick Funeral Home on Washington Avenue.
If you drive by to see what I call "my tree," you can't help but admire its beauty and growth, as the owner, Roger Kirkpatrick, takes very good care of it. Stop and see it to enjoy the glory of nature in green.
Hat's off to the green thumb in the family, Diana Kirkpatrick, who does a superb job each year filling the yard with flowers and color to make their corner lot burst with nature's best. It's always a joy to see their flowers and well-kept grounds. Walking in their yard is to savor the beauty of a great garden. I can't help taking photos each year.
I was happy to read the following news item today:
""The Fraternal Order of Police, which operates as the union for the Columbus Division of Police, gave its endorsement Tuesday to several Ohio candidates, including Gov. Ted Strickland in his bid for re-election.
The FOP threw its substantial weight behind the current governor in his bid against Republican opponent John Kasich.
"The Fraternal Order of Police is proud to stand with Governor Ted Strickland in support of his re-election," FOP State President Jay McDonald said. "The delegates at our annual conference voted to endorse Governor Strickland, who has been a strong partner with the law enforcement community during his first term in office. We look forward to continuing this relationship for years to come."
Strickland responded by saying, "Today's endorsement is a great honor. As governor I am deeply committed to helping Ohio's law enforcement professionals in their daily efforts to keep Ohio families and streets safe.
"I will continue to fight for the policies that support the mission of these brave men and women."
Strickland continued, "Congressman Kasich has proposed a reckless tax plan that would cause a massive hole in Ohio's state budget and could lead to devastating cuts in public safety programs. Local governments responsible for funding police departments would have to either leave residents unprotected or dramatically increase property taxes to maintain services. As we recover from the economic recession created on Wall Street, we must continue to support our law enforcement personnel and protect local communities across the state.""
In ancient times, a king had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.
Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand. Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.
People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do.
When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly. They have come to assist you thorough a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend, and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be
Then, without any wrong doing on your part or an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to and end. Sometimes they die, sometimes they walk away, sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and it is now time to move on.
When people come into your life for a SEASON, it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it's real, but only for a season.
LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person (anyway), and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.
How did Celeryville, Ohio get its name? Celeryville was named by workers who moved there many years ago to pick celery and onion crops. It's 121 miles north of here, north of Bucyrus, Ohio.
Did you ever stop to think about other odd names for Ohio cities? Some places were named for founders, such as Cleveland, Dayton and Youngstown. Unusual cities might be Adamsville, Bratenahl, Elyria, and Painesville. But did you know there was a Worstville in Paulding County, south of Antwerp. What are the people like that live in Dull, Ohio, south of Van Wert in Van Wert County?
There is actually an Ottoville, Ohio in Van Wert County; Jugs Corners (named for a "still" near a mule trail), south of Mansfield, in Morrow County, and Knockemstiff near Bainbridge, south of Chillicothe. You can no longer go to Teacup, Ohio as it has vanished into a ghost town; the land being merged into another town.
Some cities were named for historical heros, like Columbus, Lafayette, and Washington; or American Indian roots, such as Chillicothe, Cuyahoga, and Mohicanville (southeast of Wooster).
Others are named for landscape, like Yellow Springs for iron, Vermillion for its red clay; Minersville, Portsmouth, and Rocky River for the geology of the area.
Some early settlers put a Biblical slant on cities, like Hebron, Mount Gilead, and New Antioch.
Did you know that there are cities in Ohio named for states, like Florida (in Henry County), Idaho (east of Waverly), Nevada (near Upper Sandusky), and Texas (east of Bowling Green). Don't forget Parma, Toledo, and two Berlin's (Williams County and Holmes County), and six Rome's (Adams, Ashtabula, Delaware, Franklin, Lawrence, and Richland Counties).
So if you're going to Rome, you'll have to say "which one;" and if you're going to Texas, don't look for the largest city in Ohio, because its very small.
No matter what its name, take a drive to a city you've never seen; it's very educational.
There's a new restaurant in town! Oscar's is located at 240 E. Court Street, Washington Court House, Ohio. Two young entrepreneurs, Jason Gilmore and Nathan Zukowitz, will hold the Grand Opening of Oscar's on Monday, July 19, 2010. It is a buffet style eatery with menus that change daily.
The restaurant is complete with white linen tablecloths, chandeliers, classical music, good food, and al fresco dining (outside tables), weather permitting. Other than Jason and Nathan, the third full-time employee is Erica Williamson, who graduated from the Cincinnati Culinary Institute. The inside seating capacity is 45, and outdoors is 8-10.
Oscar's is named after the legendary Oscar Tschirky of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. He was known as Oscar of the Waldorf, where he created the Waldorf Salad and Veal Oscar.
Oscar's is open Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch. Friday and Saturdays, they are open for dinner from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Brunch is available on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Oscar's will also be available for private, evening dinner parties during the week. Lunch is $9.95, which is very reasonable for the amount of food served. Take-out is available for $8.95.
Jason and Nathan also operate The Pinkerton House, Parkinson House Catering, and Mercantile Antiques and Collectibles, all in Washington Court House.
For a new dining experience, visit Oscar's for good food and great ambiance.
-----You are invited to an Ice Cream Social----- Meet State Representative Ray Pryor and his wife Jennifer
WHEN: Sunday, July 18 from 1 - 3 p.m.
WHERE: At the home of Dale and Joy Bishop ----------13364 Cook-Yankeetown Road NE ----------Mt. Sterling, Ohio 43143 (Fayette County)
R.S.V.P. to 740-335-8034 or sue_raypole@hotmail.com
--Ice cream, music, yard games for the whole family--
Ray’s re-election campaign is in full swing, so come to meet and talk with him while enjoying a summer afternoon. Donations to the campaign will be accepted, but are not required.
Governor Ted Strickland wants to take us in the RIGHT direction. Stand behind Strickland in his re-election and help Ohio move FORWARD (instead of backward).
Since the Roy Rogers - Dale Evans Museum in Branson, MO, closed, the famous auction house, Christies in New York City, is auctioning off all the memorabilia from the museum, including TRIGGER and BULLET. See the slideshow of artifacts and remember the good ole days of the cowboy hero.
From $39.00 to approximately $6M (that's million), the Washington Fire Department is moving up in the world.
On April 13, 1833, a Mr. Thomas was paid $39.00 by the Washington City Council to build the first fire house in town, measuring 14 feet in length, 8 feet in width, and 8 feet high.
On December 2, 1852, the city paid $1,255.00 for a new horse-drawn fire engine, hose reel, and hose carriage.
On April 2, 1853, City Council appropriated $150.00 for the building of a cistern for the fire department use, to hold not less than 150 barrels of water. The cistern was located at the corner of Main and Court Streets.
In May of 1891, City Council established the first free public library and reading room which was housed on the second floor of the fire department building. In April of 1893, the library and reading room was moved to the Worthington Building owned by Morris Sharp.
In 1925, the city paid $15.000 for a new Ahrens-Fox combination hose and pump fire truck, which was still a workable fixture in September of 1976, for the Washington Fire Department. By then it was used mostly for parades, but was used in 1970 to extinguish a structure fire in Washington Court House, according to the then (1976) Fire Chief Maynard L. Denen. He had been a member of the fire department for almost 30 years. This particular truck was able to pump 750 gallons of water per minute. It was a right-hand drive truck with a 65 gallon tank capacity. A plaque was afixed to the side of the truck naming the Mayor - Rell G. Allen, and Fire Chief - Earl Leach of 1925.
The 1925 model was not the first gasoline driven fire truck used by the department. In 1913, an Ahrens-Fox pumper truck was purchased by the city for $9,000.00. Until 1913, fires were battled by bucket brigades and horse drawn units. This truck was sold in 1958 as an antique.
The later bigger and combined fire department and police department building, which was used for many years, was demolished to make a parking lot for police vehicles. This was after the new 6 million dollar facility was built and opened in November last year.
The new modern facility has one public entrance; the basement houses a complete weight workout room where all firefighters start their day with exercise. The building houses a large kitchen with commercial appliances and a large seating area. The second floor has 6 bedrooms with all hallways leading to the new modern fire pole, going down to the turnout gear room where the firefighters "suit up." This new building has a 10,000 square foot bay area to house all the fire trucks. The building contains 70 tons of steel, 1,476 cubic yards of concrete, 75,075 bricks, and over 205,000 linear feet of electrical wire. It is one of the finest fire department facilities around.
The department recently received their new "tower truck" (similar to the one pictured) which City Council purchased for $896,000, and is the largest firetruck in their fleet. The 2009 Rosenbauer is a 6-passenger truck with a 1500 gallon water tank capacity and is 74.4 feet long. The 101 foot extended ladder can easily reach the top of the tallest building in the city. The bucket at the top of the ladder holds 4 firemen and has a 1200 gpm nozzle for powerful water delivery.
The current Chief, Daniel Fowler has been Chief for 18 years and plans to retire next year.
In conclusion, do you know why the Maltese Cross is the symbol of the fire service? The symbol is essentially borrowed from the Knights of St John of Jerusalem, a charitable organization that helped the sick and poor by building hospitals and clinics. Later, they assisted the Knights of the Crusades who fought the Saracens for possession of the holy land, they encountered a new Saracen weapon - fire. Many warriors were burned and fought to save their fellow men. These men became our first firefighters. Their heroic efforts were recognized by fellow crusaders who awarded each a badge of honor - a cross similar to the one firefighters wear today. Since the Knights of St. John lived for close to four centuries on a little island in the Mediterranean Sea named Malta, the cross came to be known as the Maltese Cross.
The Maltese Cross is a symbol of protection. It means that the firefighter who wears this cross is willing to lay down his life for you just as the crusaders sacrificed their lives for their fellow man so many years ago. The Maltese Cross is a firefighter's badge of honor, signifying that he works in courage - a ladder rung away from death.
The Senate Republicans are blocking a Veterans Bill.
Senate Republicans are blocking an extension of unemployment benefits to millions. The party seems to be against everything. They are stonewalling Congressional work. So WHY are these Senators still there? Time to vote them out in November!
Be sure to purchase your pink t-shirt from a local fireman to help support women and cancer and to get our local Guardians of the Ribbon firetruck painted. I bought mine in Jeffersonville on the 4th. Support the cause and watch this video.
I was in the library reading some Fayette County history from back in the late 1800's and one item made me laugh.
It seems long ago, on a farm just east of Washington Court House, a farmer placed a half bushel of wheat in a cider barrel to keep the cider sweet.
Later, after emptying the barrel of cider, he dumped the soaked wheat in the hog pen. The pigs ate it quickly and seemed to enjoy it.
The fermented grain went to work, doing its "thing" and the pigs became gloriously drunk. Some of them laid around, surely with dreams of corn, and others became hilariously full of antics.
The farmer finally figured out why his hogs were acting so strange. After a day and a half, the swine were back on their feet - hopefully without bloodshot eyes and/or a hangover!
MORAL: Don't "pickle your pigs" with cider soaked grain!
I read this heartwarming item today and just had to share it. Even SENIORS can still LOVE.
THE WALLET: Going the extra mile to discover something special.
"As I walked home one freezing day, I stumbled on a wallet someone had lost in the street. I picked it up and looked inside to find some identification so I could call the owner. But the wallet contained only three dollars and a crumpled letter that looked as if it had been in there for years.
The envelope was worn and the only thing that was legible on it was the return address. I started to open the letter, hoping to find some clue. Then I saw the dateline--1924. The letter had been written almost sixty years ago.
It was written in a beautiful feminine handwriting on powder blue stationery with a little flower in the left-hand corner. It was a "Dear John" letter that told the recipient, whose name appeared to be Michael, that the writer could not see him any more because her mother forbade it. Even so, she wrote that she would always love him.
It was signed, Hannah.
It was a beautiful letter, but there was no way except for the name Michael, that the owner could be identified. Maybe if I called information, the operator could find a phone listing for the address on the envelope.
"Operator," I began, "this is an unusual request. I'm trying to find the owner of a wallet that I found. Is there anyway you can tell me if there is a phone number for an address that was on an envelope in the wallet?"
She suggested I speak with her supervisor, who hesitated for a moment then said, "Well, there is a phone listing at that address, but I can't give you the number." She said, as a courtesy, she would call that number, explain my story and would ask them if they wanted her to connect me. I waited a few minutes and then she was back on the line. "I have a party who will speak with you."
I asked the woman on the other end of the line if she knew anyone by the name of Hannah. She gasped, "Oh! We bought this house from a family who had a daughter named Hannah. But that was 30 years ago!"
"Would you know where that family could be located now?" I asked.
"I remember that Hannah had to place her mother in a nursing home some years ago," the woman said. "Maybe if you got in touch with them they might be able to track down the daughter."
She gave me the name of the nursing home and I called the number. They told me the old lady had passed away some years ago but they did have a phone number for where they thought the daughter might be living.
I thanked them and phoned. The woman who answered explained that Hannah herself was now living in a nursing home.
This whole thing was stupid, I thought to myself. Why was I making such a big deal over finding the owner of a wallet that had only three dollars and a letter that was almost 60 years old?
Nevertheless, I called the nursing home in which Hannah was supposed to be living and the man who answered the phone told me, "Yes, Hannah is staying with us. "
Even though it was already 10 p.m., I asked if I could come by to see her. "Well," he said hesitatingly, "if you want to take a chance, she might be in the day room watching television."
I thanked him and drove over to the nursing home. The night nurse and a guard greeted me at the door. We went up to the third floor of the large building. In the day room, the nurse introduced me to Hannah.
She was a sweet, silver-haired old timer with a warm smile and a twinkle in her eye.
I told her about finding the wallet and showed her the letter. The second she saw the powder blue envelope with that little flower on the left, she took a deep breath and said, "Young man, this letter was the last contact I ever had with Michael."
She looked away for a moment deep in thought and then said Softly, "I loved him very much. But I was only 16 at the time and my mother felt I was too young. Oh, he was so handsome. He looked like Sean Connery, the actor."
"Yes," she continued. "Michael Goldstein was a wonderful person. If you should find him, tell him I think of him often. And," she hesitated for a moment, almost biting her lip, "tell him I still love him. You know," she said smiling as tears began to well up in her eyes, "I never did marry. I guess no one ever matched up to Michael..."
I thanked Hannah and said goodbye. I took the elevator to the first floor and as I stood by the door, the guard there asked, "Was the old lady able to help you?"
I told him she had given me a lead. "At least I have a last name. But I think I'll let it go for a while. I spent almost the whole day trying to find the owner of this wallet."
I had taken out the wallet, which was a simple brown leather case with red lacing on the side. When the guard saw it, he said, "Hey, wait a minute! That's Mr. Goldstein's wallet. I'd know it anywhere with that bright red lacing. He's always losing that wallet. I must have found it in the halls at least three times."
"Who's Mr. Goldstein?" I asked as my hand began to shake.
"He's one of the old timers on the 8th floor. That's Mike Goldstein's wallet for sure. He must have lost it on one of his walks."
I thanked the guard and quickly ran back to the nurse's office. I told her what the guard had said. We went back to the elevator and got on. I prayed that Mr. Goldstein would be up.
On the eighth floor, the floor nurse said, "I think he's still in the day room. He likes to read at night. He's a darling old man."
We went to the only room that had any lights on and there was a man reading a book. The nurse went over to him and asked if he had lost his wallet. Mr. Goldstein looked up with surprise, put his hand in his back pocket and said, "Oh, it is missing!"
"This kind gentleman found a wallet and we wondered if it could be yours?"
I handed Mr. Goldstein the wallet and the second he saw it, he smiled with relief and said, "Yes, that's it! It must have dropped out of my pocket this afternoon. I want to give you a reward."
"No, thank you," I said. "But I have to tell you something. I read the letter in the hope of finding out who owned the wallet."
The smile on his face suddenly disappeared. "You read that letter?"
"Not only did I read it, I think I know where Hannah is."
He suddenly grew pale. "Hannah? You know where she is? How is she? Is she still as pretty as she was? Please, please tell me," he begged.
"She's fine...just as pretty as when you knew her." I said softly.
The old man smiled with anticipation and asked, "Could you tell me where she is? I want to call her tomorrow." He grabbed my hand and said, "You know something, mister, I was so in love with that girl that when that letter came, my life literally ended. I never married. I guess I've always loved her. "
"Mr. Goldstein," I said, "Come with me."
We took the elevator down to the third floor. The hallways were darkened and only one or two little night-lights lit our way to the day room where Hannah was sitting alone watching the television. The nurse walked over to her.
"Hannah," she said softly, pointing to Michael, who was waiting with me in the doorway. "Do you know this man?"
She adjusted her glasses, looked for a moment, but didn't say a word. Michael said softly, almost in a whisper, "Hannah, it's Michael. Do you remember me?"
She gasped, "Michael! I don't believe it! Michael! It's you! My Michael!" He walked slowly towards her and they embraced. The nurse and I left with tears streaming down our faces.
About three weeks later I got a call at my office from the nursing home. "Can you break away on Sunday to attend a wedding? Michael and Hannah are going to tie the knot!"
It was a beautiful wedding with all the people at the nursing home dressed up to join in the celebration. Hannah wore a light beige dress and looked beautiful. Michael wore a dark blue suit and stood tall. They made me their best man.
The hospital gave them their own room and if you ever wanted to see a 76-year-old bride and a 79-year-old groom acting like two teenagers, you had to see this couple.
A perfect ending for a love affair that had lasted nearly 60 years."
Happy 4th of July to one and all. Have a bang-up day!
Fire In The Sky - By the Washington Fire Department, Firefighters Association, was awesome last night. Don't forget to watch the 4th of July Parade in Jeffersonville, Ohio, at 5 p.m. and see their fireworks display later tonight. One of the "Pink Heals Tour" firetrucks is scheduled to be there. The local chapter will also be selling their pink t-shirts to raise money to get their new truck painted pink. (See previous blog post on Pink Heals.)
Fayette County has an Amateur Radio operators club ("hams") and they held a 24-hour "ham-fest" on June 26th at the Emergency Operations Center on State Route 62 North. The mission was to contact as many other ham operators across the country as possible, and receive points in many different catagories. For my birthday "bucket list," I was invited to take a tour of the event.
When I walked in, it was a room of "J's" - Jim's, John's, Jason's and more. Jason was the current operator in the radio room. His son was assisting by adding each contact into the computer. Some of the others were gathered in the conference room, documenting or researching things.
While I was there, Charles Duff of Mt. Sterling, brought in one of his old radios for the members to check out. It was an Atwater Kent 4700 Receiving Set that Duff has owned for more than 60 years, he said.
A ham can use a handheld radio, have a radio in a vehicle using a magnet mount antena, or use a base station. Ham Radio provides a near limitless opportunity to explore, to study, to serve the public, and to learn. As knowledge increases, one can pursue higher class licenses that provide access to additional radio frequencies. You can pursue new technologies like digital communications, fast scan television, satellite communications, wireless Internet access, low power communications, and even search the sky for extra-terrestrial intelligence (why not?). You can participate in public service or disaster communications. Hams volunteer to help out at events, like long-distance bicycle races, using amateur radio communications to aid in safety issues. There is a world of exploration and opportunities in amateur radio.
The history of Amateur Radio goes back more than 100 years. It has evolved from oscillatory spark transmitters of the late 1800's, the tube-type receivers of the early 1900's, to the FM repeaters of the 1970's. Who was the first Amateur Radio operator? It's not historically proven, but one participant in the race to develop radio was a young Italian Guglielmo Marconi. He had a strong interest in physics and electrical science as a boy. He studied the subject in school and became aware of the possibility of using electromagnetic waves for communicating. In 1894 he started to work on the project in earnest. Two years later he was in England with what he felt was a useful radio device. During a demonstration before British officials, Marconi managed to communicate over a distance of 2 miles without wires. It was an astonishing feat at the time, launching Marconi’s career. Amateur Radio continued to improve over the years, and the United States government began licensing Amateur Radio operators in 1912. This came after Congress decided they needed to regulate wireless communications and passed the Radio Act of 1912.
By 1914, there were thousands of Amateur Radio operators--hams--in the United States. Hiram Percy Maxim, a leading Connecticut inventor and industrialist, saw the need for an organization to band together this fledgling group of radio experimenters. In May 1914, he founded the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) to meet that need.
ARRL reflects the commitment and enthusiasm of American hams, and also provides leadership as the voice of Amateur Radio in the USA, in dealings with the Federal Communications Commission, the World Administrative Radio Conference, the International Amateur Radio Union, and with the general public. The ARRL is the primary source of information about what is going on in the ham radio world. It provides books, news, support and information for individuals and clubs, special operating events, all sorts of continuing education classes and other benefits for its members.
As Amateur Radio evolved, The Radio Act of 1912 was replaced by The Radio Act of 1927, only lasting seven years. In 1934 Congress passed the Communications Act of 1934 which established the FCC (Federal Communications Commission. It had no immediate effect on hams, except that their affairs were henceforth handled by the FCC.
A new amateur license structure was announced in 1951 by the FCC to include the Novice, Technician, and Amateur Extra licenses, along with name changes of the old class A, B, and C licenses to Advanced, General and Conditional, respectively. The Novice was a one-year, non-renewable license. The Technician license was created to accommodate those who wish to use the VHF and UHF bands above 220 MHz, without taking a 13-WPM code test. Both of these new licenses required 5-WPM Morse code tests. In late December 1952, the FCC changed the licensing structure once again. No new Advanced licenses would be issued, and Advanced and Amateur Extra licensees were withdrawn. Privileges for the Novice and Technician licensees remained unchanged. In 1991, the FCC again changed the requirements of the Morse code test by issuing "codeless" Technician licenses which recruited thousands of new licensees.
Amateur Radio's history over the past century has been one of adversity and change, inevitably followed by struggle, success and growth. Today a new era in communication technology is upon us. We have survived the technological challenges of the past by understanding new technologies that would lead Amateur Radio forward.
To learn more about the 100-year history, visit http://www.arrl.org/files/file/About%20ARRL/MAXWELL%202.pdf.
Pink is a good color for men as well as women! Thanks to the generousity of Port William, Ohio, Fayette County will see more PINK on men by way of fire gear.
Guardians of the Ribbon, Ohio Chapter is a part of the national Pink Heals Tour. Guardians of the Ribbon, dressed in pink fire suits, drive pink fire trucks across the country every year to spread their awareness campaign supporting all women in their fight against cancer. The Pink Heals Tour helps raise money and awareness for the non-profit entitles that help women in their cities and states.
The "Cares Enough To Wear Pink" campaign is celebrated each year October 25-27th by firefighters and police officers who join to support all women fighting all forms of cancer. The men honor those who can no longer fight, stand with those who can fight, and inspire those who watch.
Ryan McMurray, a founder and Chairman of the local chapter, recently took possession of the 1965 Peter Pirsch firetruck donated to the chapter by Port William, Ohio. The next step is to get the truck painted pink similar to the other in the fleet around the country.
Visit their facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ pages/Washington-Court-House-OH/Guardians-of-the-Ribbon-Ohio-Chapter/355226902805?__a=4&v=wall. If you are a fireman or policeman who wants to join the effort, email pinkfiretrucks@yahoo.com for more information. Be sure to see the Guardians of the Ribbon, Ohio Chapter unit in Jeffersonville, Ohio on July 4th prior to the evening fireworks. They will be selling t-shirts to further their cause.
To visit the Pink Heals Tour, go to www.pinkfiretrucks.org to see more states involved in this cancer awareness effort.
