August Carry-In Dinner and Business Meeting...

All are welcome to attend our next Carry-in Dinner.(11 AM)
Help us celebrate birthdays in the month of August and enjoy
each other's company on August 4th, the first Thursday of the month.
Pot-luck.


The nurse will be there to check blood pressure, etc. Business meeting
to follow. 

Book signing by Kathy Nickerson...

"Rose Hill Cottage"

Kathy Nickerson

July, 2016

Hello Novelty Seniors,

I just wanted to let you know I'm celebrating the release of my next novel, Rose Hill Cottage, this month. I promised to let some of the ladies know when that happened. I'll be doing a book signing at the Ozark Steakhouse during the Thursday night buffet on July 21, 2016.

Books are also available on Amazon.com or can be ordered by your favorite, independent bookstore. And, if you see me at the grocery store, I'm sure to have a few in my trunk.

Blessings,

Kathy

--

Kathy Nickerson

Author of Rose Hill Cottage 

www.kathynick.com

www.facebook.com/kathynick

www.twitter.com/kathynick_

amazon.com/author/kathynickerson

Are we lucky or are we lucky...

The Senior Center has existed in Novelty since 1978.

The hot water tank replacement was installed in 1989.
A hot water tank lasting this long is just pure luck.



Well, the luck ran out on July 3rd.  We were getting the float ready
for the 4th of July parade and booth in Hurdland when we found
water just inches from the carpet.  The water was already seeping
up the paneling in one of the restrooms.
Towels and fans stopped the ensuing damage just in time.

The water heater was replaced this week by Harold Horst of Horst Plumbing.

We were able to pay the plumber's bill successfully. This also drained more than
half of the checking account.  We are thankful for our past fundraising.

There are a few other items on our list of things to repair, replace or upgrade
and outside building maintenance/repairs to take care of within the near future.

Thank you for supporting the Novelty Senior Center.

A chance meeting...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinz_St%C3%BCcke
I was driving to Kansas City, MO yesterday westbound on Hwy 36, my usual uneventful drive, not thinking how your life changes with just one chance meeting.

There was a small bicycle with backpacks and a little man on the side of the road trying to lay down under a bridge just outside of Bevier, MO. It tugged at my heart strings. The temp outside was in the 90s it was around 12:00 and humid. He had already ridden some of the hilliest parts of Hwy 36, but there was more to come. You see, he had landed in Seattle, WA and was heading to Chicago on a fold up British made BROMPTON bicycle.

The 76 year old man was from Germany and little did I know he is a world cyclist and author of the book "Home is Elsewhere".

I stopped to see if he was doing okay and if he needed anything. I saw his water bottle was empty and I gave him all of my water, a banana and two peaches. His blue eyes were bright and filled with stories, his smile filled his face and puffed his little cheeks.
I had to smile too. He had stopped to rest from his hip hurting, out of water and needing to cool down. He made an unexpected stop under the bridge. His question to me was why the swallows were not under the bridge, because they usually keep him company.
He was all alone, no chase car, no one.

We chatted for awhile before the Macon County Deputy Sheriff arrived. He stopped to check out the many calls they had received about a man and a bicycle, under a bridge, in the heat of the day.
The Deputy and I visited with the little German man for about an hour, exchanged contact information, and once we knew this tough- as- nails cyclist was okay we both left with wonder and smiles.
This man is Heinz Stucke of Germany. He is on his way to Chicago for a book signing. Imagine that, we met an author and adventurer.
He has traveled the world by bicycle and documented his travels.

I invite you to read more about Heinz and follow your heart when you see someone in need, however be safe.

If you happen to see him ridding his Brompton on the highway, stop and say hello. It is well worth taking time from your travels to meet a new friend. Remember, traveling with friends may keep you from meeting new ones. Have a blessed day.

Heinz on Hwy 36....destination Chicago!!

Heinz with Macon County Deputy Sheriff Summers.

Heinz Stucke photo from heinzstucke.com

A July 5th update...

We are well on our way to meeting our goal of 40 wreath sponsorships
for the Wreaths Across America "Christmas in July" campaign.

During the Fourth of July celebration, at Hurdland, we received 14 sponsorships and several Tagging of the Trees forms were given to a few of our military families.

Although there are over 600 veterans in local cemeteries throughout
Southern Knox County, we are suggesting 200 wreath sponsorships for 2016.
We know we will not be able to place a remembrance wreath on
each veterans' grave, but all will be honored during our December 17th ceremony.

Please be on the look-out for a Wreaths Across America window cling on
the door or window of local businesses.  Ask the owner or employees about their participation in the program.

We would like to say THANK YOU to our business sponsors

for their support.

A special THANKS to everyone who helped with the Fourth of July
parade and "What a Difference a Day Makes" booth
at Hurland.


Volunteers helped make the day a success.
Marsha and Jim Pinson, Barbara Poor,
Kathryn Wilkerson,
Diana Cheatum, Butch Bailey,
Wende Wagner and a special guest-SNOOPY!!

Thank you to everyone who donated water and CANDY for the day.

There was a tremendous amount of interest in our fundraising

for Wreaths Across America.

"Fill the Combat Boot" went well, too.

Our entry for the parade won 1st place as "Best in Parade".
Thank you Snoopy for all of your help, before, during and after the parade.
Couldn't have done it without you.

Kathryn Wilkerson with the "Best in Parade" 1st place ribbon.

If you missed the parade, you can watch the Live Stream by
Echo Menges at nemonews.net and click on the "live feed and Knox County live feed" for a peek at the parade and our float.     http://nemonews.net/live-video-feeds/knox-county-live-feed/ click here to connect.  We were after the car club.
Can't miss our 7 foot wreath and Snoopy!

Hope everyone had a happy and safe 4th of July.

                    INDEPENDENCE DAY



Independence Day--the Fourth of July--a day to remember our freedoms in this great country of ours.  And to remember the sacrifices made for us.  The Senior Center spent the day in Hurdland, Missouri as they celebrated 147th annual holiday.  We had a float in their parade, with a gigantic wreath depicting the "Wreaths Across America", ladies throwing candy, giving out stickers and "dog-tags" and a patriotic Snoopy!  We won "best of parade"!!!!!

                                               

                                                      

We sat at  a booth collecting donations for wreaths...and received enough for 14+ additional wreaths.  We were thrilled with that amount, as it is a good start to our Christmas in July fundraising goal of 40 wreaths this month!   For donations, we also gave out a free bottle of water, and Snoopy was available for photo ops with the kids.  Thanks Snoopy (KF)! We know you got hot, but be thankful the weather wasn't nearly as hot as it could have been!  :)

The blue poster shows how many wreaths we have already registered with WAA, and the cemeteries where they will be placed.  

 (local veterans posing in front of our Wreath after the parade...these were in the color guard.)
Hurdland had a wonderful program this year, and we thank them for allowing us to participate.  We loved the color guard, provided by local VFW and American Legion posts, who also gave a 21-gun salute to start the festivities.  Speaker for the day was Lt. Col (Retired) Keith Gudehus.  Songs and prayers throughout the day praised our soldiers, both veterans  and those "local boys and girls" who are now serving.  

We also had a "tag-a-tree" on the table, and info for people to take in order to participate in this WAA project.  A balsam fir tree may be "tagged" with dog tags, made from information given to WAA by the family.  These tags are placed in the trees on the  Worcester Wreath Company farm in Maine where the wreaths are made.  Every three years these tagged trees are topped and those branches are used in making the wreaths for veterans' graves.  A living memorial to your beloved veteran.

A wonderful day to Remember.  Honor.  Teach.  
God Bless the USA!!!