(If you have any comments or questions, please contact the editor)
Stories
FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 11th. 2017
."Someday, everything will make perfect sense. So for now, laugh at the confusion, smile through the tears, and keep reminding yourself that everything happens for a reason!"
"Here is the list of Greeters for the month of SEPTEMBER 2017
If you are scheduled to be Greeter for a particular Thursday, try to arrive at Grins by about 11:30am, put on the special Greeter's badge and then greet each and every member and visitors as they come in.
September 14...........Frederick Case
September 21...........RoundTable.....Installation Banquet
September 28...........Pam Cook
"BIRTHDAYS DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2017
September 17, 2017.........McBride Wilson
It's Almost Installation Banquet Time Again!
Our New Lt. Governor will be installing our new President, President Elect, Secretary and Treasurer, plus those to be elected and installed to sit on our Board of Directors.
Our new President will be Doug Balkman, (Tracy Herman stays on as Past President in a non voting capacity). Kelli Whigham will be the President-Elect, Glen Rydl will remain on as Secretary, Charles Johnson will remain on as Treasurer. Wait until the 21'st to discover the full slate of officers and Board Members. Remember, I believe we will be having a Roundtable on that morning. The Installation banquet will be at Brookdale San Marcos, North, at 6pm. Don't forget your spouses, and let Tracy know at this week's meeting if you are going to be there.
Those who have Anniversaries in the Month of September, 2017
September 22...........Tracy and Gary Herman
Another Way to bring Awareness to Domestic Violence and Families affected by Hurricane Harvey!
Our newest member, Cynthia Bentley brought a inspiring way to help the victims of Domestic Violence and victims of Hurricane Harvey. It is called "Pillows for Peace"
Pillow of Peace Projects collects pillows and delivers them to local battered women's shelters for the survivors to find comfort and know that we care.
The vision of "Pillow of Peace" is that the survivor will find comfort and keep the pillow as a reminder that we care and that they find inspiration, empowerment, and peace as they rest each day and night to strengthen their mind, body, and soul and to help end their battle against domestic violence.
Cynthia, who is connected with an organization called "Unforgettable Families and Friends, Inc. says new pillows and pillow cases may be collected and donated here in Hays County throughout the month of September. There are three collection sites set up for new pillows and cases - - "Lone Star Delights" at 108 Front Street, Kyle, TX. and "Ladies - Gents" 2501 GoForth Rd, Kyle, TX (across from Lehman HS), and "Lehman High School "Lobos".
Pillow of Peace is now in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. As of September 6, 2017, it is reported that over 2000 pillows have been collected and distributed in the three states to various centers.
Program for this coming Thursday, September 14, 2017
Rhonda White will be bringing the program this coming Thursday. It will be Charles Johnson, a popular story teller, and he will be bringing two individuals from the Hays County Emergency Preparedness Office. The two persons that will be coming are Mike Jones and Kharley Smith.
The offices of Emergency Services includes the Office of Emergency Management, the Fire Marshal's Office and Emergency Preparedness. These offices have individual purposes but work together for the protection of the citizens of Hays County.
The Hays County Local Health Department's Emergency Preparedness Program coordinates the county wide public health response to large-scale emergencies and disasters - from naturally occurring ones such as a flu pandemic to those caused accidentally, such as a chemical spill, or intentionally by terrorist attack. The program is responsible for disaster planning, response, recovery and training as it relates to public health. Be sure and let's not miss this vital program.
Flags due to be put up tomorrow, Monday, September 11, in remembrance of 9-11 or Patriots Day. Those who put up be at Ted's place by 7am and those who pick up, do so between 4 & 5pm. Let's remember how important this day is to many Americans. Make displaying the flag a patriotic reflection. It might even be good once you put up the flag, to stand back and salute the flag.
Thanks for putting up flags on Labor Day!
It was a good turnout for putting up flags last Monday, (Labor Day). Those who showed up to put them up were: Glen Rydl & Francis Mendez; Randy Cook and Randal Grizzel; Del Brown; Lon Shell , Moe Johnson, Doug Balkman, James Collier, Charles Johnson and Ted Breihan
Week September 8th to September 14, 2017
September8, 1565 - - The first Catholic settlement in America was founded by Spaniard Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles at St. Augustine, Florida.
September 9, 1776 - - The United States came into existence as the Continental Congress changed the name of the new American nation from the United Colonies.
September 10, 1919 - - Following the defeat of Germany in World War I, the victorious Allies signed the Treaty of Saint-Germain ceding parts of pre-war German-Austria to Italy and Czechoslovakia. Austria was also forbidden to unite with Germany.
September 11, 2001 - - The worst terrorist attack in U.S. history occurred as four large passenger jets were hijacked then crashed, killing nearly 3,000 persons. Four separate teams of Mideast terrorists, operating from inside the U.S. boarded the morning flights posing as passengers, then forcibly commandeered the aircraft. Two fully-fueled jumbo jets, American Airlines Flight 11 carrying 92 people and United Airlines Flight 175 carrying 65 people, had departed Boston for LosAngeles. Both jets were diverted by the hijackers to New York City where they were piloted into the twin towers of the World Trade Center. The impact and subsequent fire caused both 110-story towers to collapse, killing 2,752 persons including hundreds of rescue workers and people employed in the towers. In addition, United Airlines Flight 93, which had departed Newark for San Francisco, and American Airlines Flight 77, which had departed Dulles (Virginia) for Los Angeles, were hijacked. Flight 77 with 64 people on board was diverted to Washington, D.C., then piloted into the Pentagon building, killing everyone on board and 125 military personnel inside the the building. Flight 93 with 44 people on board was also diverted toward Washington but crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to overpower the terrorists on board.
September 12, 1943 - - Former Italian Dictator Benito Mussolini was rescued by German paratroopers on orders from Adolf Hitler. Mussolini was being held prisoner by Italian authorities following the collapse of his Fascist regime.
September 13, 1814 - - The battle of Fort Henry in Baltimore Harbor occurred, observed by Francis Scott Key, aboard a ship. He watched the British attack overnight and at dawn saw the American flag still flying over the fort, inspiring him to write the verses which were later coupled with the tune of a popular drinking song and became the U.S. National Anthem in 1931.
September 14, 1812 - - Napoleon and his troops first entered Moscow as the retreating Russians set the city on fire. Napoleon found it was impossible to stay through the winter in the ruined city. He then began a retreat from Moscow which became one of the great disasters of military history. Fewer than 20,000 of the original 500,000 men with him survived the Russian campaign.
The Age of Imponderables! - (There are no answers to these imponderables, but if you think of a good answer, let me know and I will put it in?
1.....If space is a vacuum, who changes the bags?
2.....Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?
3.....If swimming is good for your shape, then why do the whales look like the way they do?
4.....If time heals all wounds, how come belly buttons don't fill in?
5.....Why is clear considered a color?
6.....Why is it called tourist season if we can't shoot at them?
7.....If you didn't get caught, did you really do it?
8.....Why is it that night falls but day breaks?
9.....Why isn't there a special name for the tops of your feet?
10...Is drilling for oil boring?
C
"Skeleton At The Feast"
"An element of gloom or depression; an omen of misfortune; a reminder of possible disaster in the midst of pleasure. The allusion is to a custom in ancient Egypt as related by Plu9tarch (c. A.D. 46 to 120) in his Moralia. He tells us that at the conclusion of a feast a household servant carried a mummy into the banquet hall as a reminder to the guests that all men are mortal. However, our present phrase did not arise in English literature before the middle of the nineteenth century. It is best known, perhaps from Longfellow's 'The Old Clock on the Stairs,' stanza 5: 'In that mansion used to be free-hearted Hospitality; His great fires up the chimney roared; The stranger feasted at his board; But, li8ke the skeleton at the feast, That warning timepiece never ceased, -----Forever-----never! Never-----forever!"
Give an unexperienced carpenter a saw and a Drill, and who knows what he will do!
"My husband decided to install a light switch in our master bedroom. Cutting into the wall, he discovered a stash of bottles and boxes. "Honey!" he called excitedly. "Come and see what I found!" I ran in and quickly realized that his next task would be to fix the hole he had made in the back of our medicine cabinet."
1........Mars and Earth have approximately the same landmass. Even though Mars has only 15% of the Earth's mass, around 2/3 of the Earth's surface is covered with water. Martian surface gravity is only 37% of the Earth's (meaning you could leap nearly three times higher on Mars.
2.........Mars is home to the tallest mountain in the solar system. Olympus Mons, a shield volcano is 21km high and 600km in diameter. Despite having formed over billion s of years, evidence from volcanic lava flows is so recent many scientists believe it could still be active.
3..........Mars has the largest dust storms in the solar system. They can last for months and cover the entire planet. The seasons are extreme because its elliptical (oval-shaped) orbital path around the Sun is more elongated than most other planets in the solar system.
4............On Mars the Sun appears about half the size as it does on Earth. At the closest point to the Sun, the Martian southern hemisphere leans towards the Sun, causing a short, intensely hot summer, while the northern hemisphere endures a brief, cold winter; at its farthest point from the Sun, the Martian northern hemisphere leans towards the Sun, causing a long, mild summer, while the southern hemisphere endures a lengthy, cold winter.
5..........Pieces of Mars have fallen to Earth. Scientists have found tiny traces of Martian atmosphere within meteorites violently ejected from Mars, then orbiting the solar system amongst galactic debris for millions of years, before crash landing on Earth. This allowed scientists to begin studying Mars prior to launching space missions.
6..........Only 18 missions to Mars have been successful. As of September 2014 there have been 40 missions to Mars, including orbiters, landers and rovers but not counting flybys. The most recent arrivals include the Mars Curiosity mission in 2012, the MAVEN mission, which arrived on September 22, 2014. There have been later missions after these.
7...........Mars takes its name from the Roman god of war. The ancient Greeks called the planet Ares, after their god of war, the Romans then did likewise, associating the planet's blood red color with Mars, their own god of war. Interestingly, other ancient cultures also focused on colour - to China's astronomers it was 'the fire star',, whilst Egyptian priests called on 'Her Desher', or 'the red one'. The red color Mars is known for is due to the rock and dust covering its surface being rich in iron.
8............There are signs of liquid water on Mars. For years Mars has been known to have water ion the form of ice. The first signs of trickling water are dark stripes or stains on crater wall and cliffs seen in satellite images. Due to Mar's atmosphere this water would have to be salty to prevent it from freezing or vaporizing.
9.............Strictly a prediction by scientific authorities, in the next 20-40 million years Mars' largest moon Phobus will be torn apart by gravitational forces leading to the creation of a ring that could last up to 100 million years.
America the Beautiful.....Beautiful NEW YORK
1...The 641 mile transportation network known as the Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway is the longest toll road in the United States!
2....The Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan is the only school in the world offering a Bachelor of Science Degree with a Major in Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing!
3.....Dairying is New York's most important farming activity with over 18,000 cattle and or calves farms!
4.....In 1807, The Clermont made its maiden voyage from New York City to Albany making the vessel the first successful steamboat!
5......Chittenago is the home of L. Frank Baum, author of the "Wizard of Oz". It features a yellow brick inlaid sidewalks leading to Aunti Em's and other Oz-themed businesses. Chittenago is the location of an annual Munchkins parade!
6......Oneida is home of the world's smallest church with the dimensions of 51" X 81"!
7.......The New York Post, established in 1803 by Alexander Hamilton is the oldest running newspaper in the United States!
8.......The first railroad in America ran a distance of 11 miles between Albany and Schenectady!
9.......The first capital of the United States was New York City. In 1789 George Washington took his oath as president on the balcony of Federal Hall.
10.....Sam Wilson, a meatpacker from Troy who's caricature Uncle Sam came to personify the United States is buried at Troy's Oakwood Cemetery. During the War of 1812, he stamped "U.S. Beef" on his products which soldiers interpreted the U.S. appreviation as meaning Uncle Sam!
"America the Beautiful.....Stairsteps up Whiteface Mountain.
Whiteface Mountain is the fifth-highest mountain in the U.S. State of New York and one of the High Peaks of the Adirondack Mountains. Set apart from most of the other High Peaks, the summit offers a 360 degree view of the Adirondacks and clear-day glimpses of Vermont and even Canada, where the skyscrapers of Montreal, 80 miles away, can be seen on a very clear day.
Whiteface Castle, built with granite excavated during the road construction, dominates the summit area. From an adjacent parking lot there are routes to the summit proper. The first route is the Stairway Ridge Trail, a footpath with handrails and intermittent cement and stone steps approximately 0,2 miles long. The view in the picture is taken while standing on those steps.
"It's the Little Things in Life that determine the Big Things!
.jpg)
"
.jpg)
.jpg)
Mars and Earth have approximately the same landmass. Even though Mars has only 15% of the Earth's mass, around 2/3 of the Earth's surface is covered with water. Martian surface gravity is only 37% of the Earth's (meaning you could leap nearly three times higher on Mars.
.Stairsteps up Whiteface Mountain.
