Margaret Kadel's birthday party was a smashing success, thanks in part to readers of this column. You may remember that the nonagenarian wanted her friends to enjoy tunes of the 20th century's early decades - the melodies of her girlhood - at the bash she threw on her natal day. When folks learned she needed a musical assist, offers of records, tapes, CDs, lyrics to songs of the Roaring '20s, even offers to perform for the guests came pouring in.
Sure enough, the words to Yes, We Have No Bananas figured prominently in the haul, and Margaret was surprised to learn the song has more verses than you can shake a peel at.
In addition, Margaret received cards and birthday greetings, which included long phone conversations with wonderful people, some of whom have become friends.
"Overwhelming!" she says of readers' response. She was astounded at the number of folks who still play and sing the music of her youth. But, then, good stuff never wears out, does it? Margaret thanks everyone who contributed to the celebration, which was enjoyed immensely by the birthday gal and her friends, young and old.
If unused shelving and brackets are becoming a stumbling block in your garage, Danette Reid has a suggestion for putting them to good use. Danette is an administrative assistant at Brookwood, a group home for abused teen girls. A project there needs some sturdy shelving that attaches to the wall.
When the girls do extra chores, keep their rooms clean or earn good grades, they receive points that can be traded for toiletries, games, photo albums. These items will be displayed on the shelves so the young women can look them over when they come to the office to cash in their points.
Remember, the donation is tax deductible, says Danette, who may be reached at (727) 822-4789, ext. 11. Here's another organization helping young people that needs readers' help. Healing Wolf, of Wolf's Heart Lodge, an American Indian organization, is seeking bicycles and bicycle parts in reasonable condition. The items will be reconditioned, then transported to Redlands Christian Migrant Association for use by the children of migrant farm workers.
Specific items needed are children's and adult's bicycles, plus parts and accessories such as baskets, bells, horns, kickstands, etc. Please call (727) 343-2004 and ask to speak with Healing Wolf.
And moving forward with what seems to have developed into a theme on aiding children, let's turn to the letter from Chris Emerson, a teacher at Chester Taylor Elementary School in Zephyrhills. Chris needs the game Trivial Pursuit - both the boards and the pieces.
Chris is trying to create an educational game with questions based on the six major themes (for example, the rain forest) the kids learn about each year. That sounds like a fun way to reinforce knowledge. Teachers are some of the most creative people in the world, based on our experience.
Chris may be reached in the evenings and weekends (probably grading papers!) at (813) 376-9026; or e-mail cemerson@pasco.k12.fl.us Attention, readers in the New Port Richey vicinity. One of your neighbors was inspired by a recent column to think about organizing the 8mm film left by her dad, who did not date any of it. She hopes to locate a person who will help her run the films through the projector and put them in a sequence, then transfer them to tape or CD.
This reader owns a projector, camera, screen and splicer she will give the assistant after the transfers are made. If you would like to help this woman organize irreplaceable memories for herself and her elderly mother, please send your name and phone number to the column, and the staff will see that you connect.
Richard Spranger of Pinellas Park, who is moving soon, hopes some individual or group would enjoy using his Grolier Universal Encyclopedia, which includes year books to the year 2000. Please call (727) 577-5241 if you are interested.
Bob Raymond of Dunedin, who recently moved from New York, misses the instrumentalists and singers he used to jam with, so he is seeking some amateur or semipro musicians who would like to get together and play for fun. He'd be happy to host the group in the small studio he has set up in his home or travel a reasonable distance to someone else's place.
So, keyboard, sax, drum, bass players, plus vocalists - if you're out there, give Bob a call at (727) 733-0023, and plan to get together and make beautiful, swinging music.
Mitch hopes to locate a person who will be willing to teach him to make walking sticks (canes) from palm fronds. That's a new one for the staff, but Mitch has seen some and says they are really neat. Please write to him in care of this column.
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