News Feed
Dear Editor: 8-25
Dear Editor,
It’s been said that they roll up the sidewalks in the Bay early each evening and there is nothing to do. We just returned home from the opening performance of “Nunsense” at the Bay View Club and want to let everyone know there is something terrific to do – and they will only have one more chance to see this delightful show on Friday, August 27th.
The cast is a wonderful group of ladies who appeared to be having just as much fun as the audience. We laughed, enjoyed the music, and went home thoroughly entertained. We are very fortunate to have such talent here in FFB.
To the cast and crew of “Nunsense” – thank you for a wonderful evening!
Dwayne & Linda Miller
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THE UN-COMFORT ZONE with Robert Wilson
Good Habit – Questionable Motive
I would like to share with you a story about my mom, a woman who was very insecure about her background. She grew up in a blue collar family where neither her mother or father finished eighth grade. Mom completed high school, but only with tutoring by my father. She would frequently say to me, “I was born on the wrong side of the tracks.”
At age 19, she married my father, the handsome son from a wealthy family. Her beauty and charm trumped all the debutantes in town, and swept Dad off his feet. She thought she had it made and that all her fears would go away. Money and position, however, would not erase her feelings of inferiority. Those feelings were intensified instead. The contrast between her education and her in-laws with professional degrees was intimidating.
Mom wanted to fit in, join the discussions, be an authority in her own right. In short, she wanted to feel important in her new family, and she realized that she needed more knowledge. Determined to find a way to reduce her education deficit, Mom threw herself into reading.
Any subject appealed to her at first, and overtime she found her favorites and pursued them to excellence. One thing she had no time for was fiction.
It was a habit that served her well, and in 1960 paid off in a big way. That year my dad was diagnosed with kidney failure and given less than a year to live. There was no cure, and my parents were advised to start planning for the day he would die.
Three years old at the time, my recollections are that my strong Daddy could no longer pick me up and carry me. That he did not go to work very often, and spent his days in bed. I noticed Mom took over all the driving and occasionally pulled off the road so Dad could vomit.
Mom and Dad sold their house and used the proceeds to buy a four-unit apartment house with the plan that Mom, my sister and I would live in one unit and live off the rents of the other three. The plan was for my mother to work part time until my sister and I were old enough for school, then she would work full time. Until Dad’s illness, she had been a stay home Mom.
After high school, Mom trained as an x-ray technician, but had not worked in years. She began to take temp jobs to beef up her skills and to develop a network of potential employers when the inevitable day arrived.
At one of those early temp jobs, the x-ray machine broke. An extended period of down time ensued, and Mom went to the magazine rack in the doctor’s lobby for something to read. She passed over the popular magazines of the day after finding an out of date medical journal. “This looks like something good for my mind!” she thought.
In an article about physicians in Boston conducting experimental surgery, she learned of the world’s first kidney transplants. At the time of the writing, the doctors were looking for volunteers. Her pulse quickened. As she read on, she discovered there was a prerequisite. The volunteers had to have an identical twin. Dad happened to have an identical twin.
At that point Mom ran to the nearest phone and dialed Boston until she got one of those doctors on the line. “Yes,” he replied, “we are still looking for volunteers. Send me your husband and his brother.” That night they went to visit my Uncle Ralph, who said, “To save your life, absolutely! Yes, you may have one of my kidneys.”
I share this story because Mom developed a lifelong habit of reading non-fiction because she wanted to impress her in-laws and other people who intimidated her. In the end, her habit saved my dad’s life. He became the 12th person in the world to have a kidney transplant and live. And, I got Dad for 18 more years.
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Dear Editor 8-18
Dear Editor,
The Fairfield Bay City Council is commended for showing leadership by not passing the ordinance that would have expanded the authority of the City Code Enforcement Officer. Passage would have made the city less accommodating. The perception of contractors, other business people, prospective residents and residents is that the government has an in your face attitude that isn’t conducive to the growth the mayor says he desires.
Our city is composed of people who moved here to live in the peace and quiet of a retirement community free from the “do it our way or else” rules, laws and attitudes in the cities from whence they came. Such rules here are causing hostility, resentment and disgust on the part of many who are hammered by the codes and other laws, which at times seem unnecessary. We have lived here for many years without being cited for things that haven’t been any problem until a few in government decided to whip us into line for reasons not clearly understood.
If we are to grow, we must present a vision to people that this city is a community that is accommodating with a live and let live attitude in so far as possible. Granted, there are laws that need to be applied when necessary, but the heavy-handed method does not present an inviting and accommodating community. Another word that fits with accommodating and community is co-operation, which seems lacking as well.
While the present mayor has improved the infrastructure (at least according to him in a newspaper front-page campaign message), the leadership promoting good-will is sorely lacking. According to many, the attitudes of “lay the hammer to them” and “I’m right and you are wrong” are retarding growth. Hopefully, the refusal of the council to increase the powers of the COE will serve as a beginning wake-up call for all city employees.
A change in attitude is imperative if we are to grow in number; and if the present leaders cannot mend their ways, then a change, beginning at the top, is the only solution.
Donald E. Clem
Fairfield Bay
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Arkansas Humor with Ed Burns
Weather Watch
I don’t know about you but I’m getting a little tired of seeing a weather person on local TV warning me of a “severe weather watch or warning.” For the last few months they seem to be on TV 24/7 trying to scare me, and it has worked. And why do the weather reporters have to go stand out in the storm to report such. Why can’t they show the storm out the TV studio window?
I think I do know the difference between a “watch” and a “warning.” I’m sure watch means that a severe storm could be in your area, so be on the lookout/watch. But how can we “watch” when they also tell us not to go outside or go near a window? Warnings are more serious, it means that there is definitely a storm in your area and you best be prepared.
I don’t have a storm shelter/cellar and it’s a good thing. If I did I would probably move in and live there. Then to make matters even worse, there is the infamous Tornado spotting. How can you not be scared when there has been a tornado spotted in your area?
Recently we here in west Conway were under a tornado warning. One had been spotted directly overhead. The horns blasted and the TV screamed, take shelter. My wife and I got dressed, took some pillows and headed for the bathroom. While on the way I looked out my front door, two of our neighbors were out in their driveways watching the sky. One had his digital camera taking pictures of the clouds. Obviously they had not heeded the warning. Lucky for us it didn’t last long and the tornado never touched the ground, but I did not sleep well for the remainder of the night.
To make matters worse, we live in a flood zone. So if the severe weather and tornadoes miss us and it just rains, then I must worry about a flood. Is there no end to my concerns?
Does the bad/rocky weather season ever end?
Don’t get me wrong, I do appreciate the local weather people’s effort to try and keep us safe but it just seems like they take some pleasure in scaring us. Or is it a competition between the TV channels to see who can frighten us first. It’s kinda sad when watching them track a severe storm and you see that it is just going to miss your area and hit the people down the road. Why should we be relieved or happy knowing that someone else will suffer damage and loss but not you? I suppose it’s just human nature.
We have a “Weather” channel on our TV, it’s their job to keep us informed about severe or bad weather. I’m not sure we need all the local channels trying to outdo the others by scaring us more. What ever happened to “entertainment” on local TV?
Recently most of the storms have been spotted in Texas or Oklahoma before moving into Ark. I’m thinking maybe we could take a break on the wall between the US and Mexico and build a “weather wall” on the border between us and Tex./OK.
I think I will switch over to a cable channel and watch the Andy Griffin show. Barney don’t scare me.
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Dear Editor 8-4
Dear Editor:
Words cannot begin to express my heartfelt thanks for the love and concern and many cards and help I received after my husband left this world for a better place.
Especially do I thank the staff at Indian Rock Village who took good care of him and did all they could to make him comfortable.
Norm really loved living here and we both felt blessed living in a great community like Fairfield Bay. Many thanks again to everyone.
Janet Gosch
Dear Editor:
The Fairfield Bay Animal Protection League and the Bill Duncan Family would like to thank all the golfers for playing in our tournament. A tournament takes planning and volunteers to make an event happen, so to all the volunteers who helped with the tournament we say Thank You. We would also like to thank our sponsors: Dr. Pepper, Heber Springs State Bank, Chesapeake Energy. We had a great tournament and raised $2, 400.00 for the shelter. I hope to see you all next year.
The Bill Duncan Family
The Fairfield Bay Animal Protection League
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DISABILITIES By Daniel J. Vance
“Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiver”
Gary Joseph LeBlanc reads this column in the Hernando (Fla.) Today newspaper. For eight years, he was the primary caregiver for his father, who died a year ago at age 85 of Alzheimer’s disease.
The Alzheimer’s Association website says this progressive, gradual onset, fatal brain disease affects perhaps five million Americans. It causes memory, thinking, and behavior challenges, and is our nation’s sixth-leading cause of death.
Said LeBlanc in a telephone interview: “From my perspective, one thing I learned more than anything else in caring for my father (with Alzheimer’s disease) was the importance of routine. Having a routine is the best thing you can do for them. By it, I mean keeping breakfast and dinner the same time each day, and giving medication at the same time. Keep everything the same. If I took my dad to the doctor, he would be a mess for two days because I had broken his routine. Even taking them on a trip to the grocery store is a lot to them.”
Because he and his father worked side-by-side and co-owned a bookstore, LeBlanc was able to directly observe how Alzheimer’s disease was affecting him. LeBlanc read everything he could “get his hands on” about Alzheimer’s disease, and soon discovered a lack of information directed toward caregivers. So LeBlanc authored a book just for caregivers. It’s called “Staying Afloat in a Sea of Forgetfulness.”
Besides the new book, he also writes a column for Hernando Today about being an Alzheimer’s caregiver. In certain respects, he has become a local “Dear Abby,” he said. Some people call and email him regularly for advice and information.
“For example,” he said, “a lot of people ask me if they should go on vacation and travel with their parent. I say don’t do it. If a parent can get lost in their own home, why would you want to put them on a cruise ship for four or five days?”
That said, even though common themes exist in most caregiving situations involving people with Alzheimer’s disease, he said caregiving for it is far from an exact science. Every affected person responds differently.
As for his book, LeBlanc said, “I’ve tried keeping it light-hearted as possible. It’s not a biography. I don’t even mention my dad’s name. It’s written from one caregiver to another and has suggestions on what to do and try.”
Contact danieljvance.com (Palmer Bus Service and Blue Valley Sod made this column possible.)
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Letters to Editor 7-28
Dear Editor & Community,
The Fairfield Bay Library’s Summer Reading Program 2010 has come to an end but our investment in youth literacy has really just begun.This was our library’s third year of the SRP and saw about 800 youth and adults in attendance including our Shirley School Outreach Program, arts and crafts, reading incentives and entertaining,educational programs.
Thank you to our wonderful entertainers and educators this year with special thanks to our local programs gifted through the generosity of Bob and Rosemary Holiday-Holiday Puppets and Trish and Ron Adams of the Black Stallion Literacy Program. Thank you to FFB Rotary for their generous grant for the Australian Great White Shark Adventure and Kirk of the Hills for sharing their great space with all of us.
Many volunteers made this all possible and I thank each and every one with special acknowledgment going to Doris Wilkinson and Seanna Garrow for their cheerful organization and operation of each event and Pat Reeves for heading out and getting the kids ready to participate.
This is an extremely rewarding program for all involved. I hope you’ll come out next year and be a part of it. Adults love this stuff as much as the kids do…..really! Just ask me.
Thank you everyone for your support of the Fairfield Bay Library and all of those who enjoy this library’s services.
For the young people and the parents who made this all worthwhile….Congratulations! Make a Splash !!! READ
Sara Michael
Fairfield Bay Library
Dear Mr. Spies,I am writing to brag on a number of your staff members who really made this weekend a big success. My old girl friends from high school have a reunion every summer. This is the 17th summer we have gathered at various places in the United States. We have a condo at FFB, but for this occasion we needed space for 12 so we rented a beautiful home with a terrific view of the lake. We rented the Community Club bus for a trip to Blanchard Caverns, Joe Joe’s Catfish Restaurant and a shopping trip to Mountain View. Can’t say enough about how helpful Sheryl and Linda in the Rec. Dept. were in arranging this trip. The bus driver, Bob, was terrific and really made the trip a pleasure. The folks at the marina were efficient and friendly in regards to renting a pontoon and dinner at Indian Hills Country Club was a big hit with my friends. Our servers were Jessica and Emily and they were professional and friendly….the food was great.
I see great things for FFB if we can ever get the hotel built. The people you have in place will impress visitors with a special brand of Arkansas friendliness while delivering service in an exceptional manner.Sincerely,Diane Stearns
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Arkansas Humor
Perplexing Signs
By Ed Burns
I work one day a week at our local Hospital as a volunteer. My official title is Courier. I refer to myself as a “go gitter.” When ask what that means and what do I “go get” I simply say- what ever they want. We have an office with a phone, they call us-tell us what they want/need and I “go get it.”
I push a lot of people in wheel chairs all around the hospital. When there are no wheel chairs available, I go find one. I also carry a lot of food trays from the kitchen to hospital patient rooms. I also help deliver mail from and to the mailroom. I also deliver various records/files from one station in the hospital to other locations.
Many of the doors in the hospital have automatic door openers and closers. You push a big button and wait; the door will open then close after you pass through.
Last week after I had delivered such a file I was attempting to depart the room. I noticed a big sign (in red) on the inside of the door. It read “KEEP THIS DOOR CLOSED AT ALL TIMES.” Focus on the word “ALL” All is an infinite word, meaning total or 100%.
Being retired military I am prone to follow orders. I thought to myself, if I follow this warning sign 100% or totally, I will not be able to leave the room. Even if I open the door and rush out and hit the close button, I will not be leaving the door closed at “ALL” times.
So what was I supposed to do? I was standing there pondering the situation when a nurse came over and asked, “what was the problem?” I explained the situation to her in brief; she laughed and told me that the sign meant. Keep the door closed when ‘Not in use.’ Well that’s not what it says. Why don’t they change the sign? Maybe it should read,”Close the door behind you.” Am I the only person who works at the hospital who notices things like this? I’ve been told that I was a bit “anal-retentive” but am I carrying it too far? I think not! Words have meanings, we should be more careful about the words we use, life is confusing enough.
Another small problem, I am required to go into some areas that have signs that say “Authorized Personnel Only.” I’m not always sure if I am “Authorized Personnel.” I have a badge/name tag that says Volunteer. I was told that volunteers were the same as staff, but how much authorization does that give me? I seriously doubt that I can walk into the surgery center while an operation is being performed. In the military we wore security badges but they specified what areas/zone that we were “authorized” to enter. I don’t expect a medical facility to be run like the military, but they might take some lessons. I’ve never been ask to leave any area so I suppose I am authorized,
We have a suggestion box hanging on the wall in the lobby; maybe I should fill out several forms advising the hospital staff on how they should run their establishment. But on the other hand, I like my job there; maybe I should leave management to the paid staff.
Now if I can only figure out how to get out of this room without opening the door. Any suggestions?
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Dear Editor 7-7
Dear Editor:
I want to say Thank You to everyone who called or seen me out in public and showed your support for me to run for Mayor. I have decided not to pursue that position at this time, but I would like all my supporters to PLEASE give that support to Paul Wellenberger. He wants to service our city and is eager to make a difference in the way things are handled at the city office. He will keep you informed of items that are of importance and will encourage you to stop by the office and visit with him regarding issues you have. He will show leadership and fairness, and work with the Community Club which is what our city needs at this time. When you go the polls in November please Vote Paul Wellenberger as your next Mayor of our fine city.
Thanks again for your support
Linda Duncan
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DISABILITIES By Daniel J. Vance
Reaching Out:
Not long ago, I featured two Ohio women who encouraged each other and became friends after reading this column. What they have done helping each other has spurred me on to ponder what more I could do for readers.
When I began writing in 2002, the purpose of this weekly column was to feature the real-life experiences of people with disabilities, and through it, provide awareness, information, and encouragement.
To that end, and primarily because of the Ohio women, I began last week a Facebook page to offer under one roof yet more awareness, information, and encouragement. On my page, I am posting videos about disability, links to disability-related news items, and providing the beginning framework of a forum for people with disabilities. You can comment and you can discuss. It’s your page.
I envision readers and editors posting disability-related news links from their hometown newspaper’s website to share. Suddenly, what happens regarding a person with a disability in Indiana, New York, California, or Mississippi, for example, can be read by readers all over.
And through this Facebook page, you can share your own personal experiences involving disability and make friends and share knowledge, similar to what the Ohio women did. You can also give me leads on people with disabilities to write about.
It would give me joy to learn of a reader with a disability in Florida, for example, making connections and drawing strength from a West Virginia reader. Or one from New Mexico able to improve their child’s life because of help from a reader in Illinois. And, if you are willing, I would enjoy sharing the experiences of some of you through this weekly column appearing in your local newspaper.
You can find my page by searching Facebook for “Disabilities By Daniel J. Vance.”
Over the years, I’ve learned all too well that most people with disabilities face isolation. Although never able to surpass in quality seeing someone face-to-face, connecting with others over the Internet sure beats isolation. Often, caregivers face isolation, too.
As I’ve shared at least three times over the years, my family was suddenly introduced to the world of disability in 1995 when our daughter was born with spina bifida. I remember feeling isolated. I had heard of spina bifida, but hadn’t known anyone with it. A generous dose of encouragement and information then would have helped tremendously.
Contact: danieljvance.com. (Blue Valley Sod and Palmer Bus Service made this column possible.)
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