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Show Guardian of Your Community Neivs Sentinel WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2009 • A3 Benjamin cemetery in need Local artist 'Round and About Benjamin Kathleen Olsen A very important community meeting is scheduled for Benjamin on Thursday, Dec. 10,2009. Adults are invited to a meeting concerning the Benjamin Cemetery and some of its needs. Our cemetery is one of the very few cemeteries in Utah that is operated and mostly maintained by the citizens of the community. It comes under the jurisdiction of Utah County with a board made up of community citizens who see to the operation and needs of the . cemetery. Scout groups donate much time and work on various projects and a number of Eagle Scout projects have been done to improve the grounds. Other groups and, sometimes, families or individuals give of their time to keep the quiet hill that is the resting place of many former residents and friends looking neat and welcoming. At the moment, there are two members serving on the cemetery advisory council. These include Vernon Marshall, chairman, and Blair Olsen. The County has given permission for the committee to advertise for another member for the council. Help is needed to keep the cemetery operating in an effective manner. Please try to attend this important community meeting! ••• All Benjamin 1st Ward members are reminded of the Ward Christmas Party being held this evening (Wednesday, Dec. 9,2009). This will begin at 6:30 p.m. with supper being served. A program featuring the talents of five ward families will follow the supper after which a special guest will make a visit. Those attending are asked to bring an unwrapped gift of any sort to be placed in Humanitarian gift boxes. These will be dispersed later to needy people of the area who might not be expecting much for Christmas. Thanks for your help. ••• The annual Children's Nativity Story Hour will take place on Sunday, Dec. 13,2009.Thiswillbeheldat the home of Blair and Kathleen Olsen and will begin at 4 p.m. and will last for one hour. Children, 4 years and older, are invited to attend in Sunday clothes, to hear stories about the birth of Jesus and view nativities on display. (Children younger than 4 years are invited if a parent stays with them.) ••• Justin and Jill Stewart have a new little son in their home. Miles Stewart was born on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, at the Utah Valley. Regional Medical Center in Provo and has been welcomed by his parents and by two older brothers and two older sisters. ••• Lillian McDonald, former Benjamin resident, passed away on Nov. 15, 2009. Lillian and her husband, John, moved here after retiring from work in Oregon where they became an integral part of our community serving wherever they could. Lillian was full of ambition and energy and enjoyed playing tennis and golf. She also served with her musical abilities and shared her talents in many fields. One special memory I have of her is the Christmas season when she gave a Relief Society lesson and closed with presenting every sister with a crocheted angel she had made. Each Christmas there is an instant reminder of Lillian whenever I hang my angel on the tree.. She and John moved to Spanish Fork some years ago for health reasons but maintained a strong interest in what was going on in Benjamin. John died a couple of.years ago. Lillian's funeral was held in the Meadow Lark 1st Ward in Spanish Fork on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009 with burial taking place in the Heber City cemetery. ••• The gingerbread house tradition continues. A large number of Marion and Pat Wride's family met at the Benjamin Church on Saturday evening, Nov. 28, 2009, to construct and decorate gingerbread houses. The cultural hall was full of tables, mixers, candies and other decorative materials and, of course, gingerbread. Through the years this long standing Wride family tradition has produced some lovely masterpieces, many of which are given away. This year, two houses will be heading to missionaries serving away from home. This event was started many years ago in the Wride home but has grown to such proportions that they must now meet at the church. It is a tradition that brings much joy and happiness for the builders and the receivers. ••• exhibits in St. George Nationally known local artist, Bonnie Conrad of Windance Fine Art, today announced her upcoming art reception at Impressions Fine Art, during the Gallery Walk Dec. 11-26 at 189 North Main Street, St. George. A graduate of Brigham Young University, now a resident of Woodland Hills, Conrad's oil painting is distinct in its passion for color, its celebration of light and its somewhat impressionistic approach. Bonnie is the recipient of several prestigious art awards and has been invited, to join several organizations including American Women Artists. According to Bonnie Conrad, mother of six and grandmother to several, her work is motivated by color — the fascinating play between compliments, the mysterious subtleties of gray tones and the endless possibilities for mood. Conrad is deeply concerned that her work should always lift the human spirit. "I want the art enthusiast to hear the drumbeat and feel the excitement radiating from a dancing Indian child; to re-live a tender moment between a mother and her offspring or to taste the dust and feel the sun on their face as they view a western ranch scene," said Conrad. "I want the world to be a finer, lighter, brighter place for my having painted here." Ed and Kathryn Hall have moved from Benjamin and are now closer to Spanish Fork. We wish them well in their new home and hope things go well for them. A different kind of adventure There and Back. Again Shirlene R. Ottesen Well, here we are again! - in the middle of busy, hectic, and sometimes frenzied preparations for Christmas! I'm getting there, but not quite done yet. Every year we wonder if we're going to be ready and every year it comes whether we're ready or not. Like someone said, "Christmas comes the same day every year so it's no big surprise." I read the following statement called "Christmas Wisdom" the other day in a farm magazine and I want to share it with you. Now you men, when you are finished reading this, don't roll your eyes and turn to your wife and say, "Yeah, right!" We will never know, but it will make you wonder — and smile. "Do you know what would have happened if it had been Three Wise Women? They would have asked for directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, brought practical gifts — and there would be Peace on Earth". Just think about it — it's not impossible. There could have been Three Wise Women and I'm sure they would have done all of the above. We've all heard that "Behind every good man is a good woman" so for now we'll just surmise that there were Three Wise Women behind those Three Wisemen. Now on to another subject . Like many of you, I was so hoping that the workers would be successful in rescuing the young man, John Jones who was stuck in the Nutty Putty Cave a couple of weeks ago. I had a knot in my stomach just thinking about his situation and what an agonizing 27 hours he suffered. I don't understand the fascination with exploring caves. For me, I want to be out in the open where I can see what's going on. I don't like to be underground and in the dark. In years past I have participated in going on hikes to the Timp Cave and it has been a stretch for me to do that. At least you can walk around inside the Timp Cave, they have electricity so you can see where you're going and there are guides and lots of other people with you. Have you ever been in the Timp Cave? There is one point where they turn the lights out and you literally cannot see your hand in front of your face. That's dark! There was a map of the Nutty Putty Cave published in the Daily Herald and just on paper it looks scary. Reading the names that identify areas in the cave like Vein Alley, The Arota Crawl, The Birth Canal, The Big Slide and the Scout Eater are enough to scare the living daylights out of me. But, there are people who are very adventurous and love exploring places such as this. It's a good thing we're not all alike, isn't it! There are some people who go on a cruise every year and love it. And I think that's great! Me? You couldn't get me on a cruise ship out on all that water! Especially with the recent news of ships being captured by pirates. Pirates? I thought they were extinct, but evidently not. There are people who like to scuba dive and explore all the underwater creatures, but I'm content to read about them in a book. Then there are the mountain climbers who climb in both summer and winter, but mostly in the winter when it's cold and it's possible to slip and fall into a deep, icy hole which becomes your final resting place. I feel for those in the military who serve in submarines. I would go AWOL for sure. As you can tell, I'm not a very adventurous. I like to see the sun, the moon and the stars. I like to have solid earth to walk on, just live an ordinary life and write a weekly column for the hometown paper. Sounds kinda boring doesn't it, but for me, it's okay. Good luck in all your preparations for the holidays. It's going to be a busy next couple of weeks with school events, family parties, church programs, etc. and a few family birthdays thrown in for good measure. Courtesy photo FINE ART: This painting called, "The Lady and her Mare", by Bonnie Conrad, best known for her western and women image art, will be featured in a St. George Art Walk this December. Madison's Avenue by "Big Al" and "Farnzy" ©2009 Madlngo L.LC, Allan Olsen and Darren Fames "You know Ringo,... sometimes too much of a good thing is AWESOME!" Kiwanis Let your VOICE "•'HEARD Courtesy photo CHRISTMAS SOCIAL: The Kiwanis club held its Christmas Social on Dec. 2 at the Primrose Retreat. A delicious dinner was enjoyed by all. Then the group was entertained by the Larsen Elementary school choir under the direction of Julie Peery. They sang some unique Christmas songs as well as telling of Christmas traditions around the world. After the program, President Doug Lund presented each lady with a special Christmas basket from NuSkin. Doug Lund conducted the meeting. Deloris Nelson led the music. Mike McKell led the pledge and Dale Peery offered the prayer. Prior to the meeting, Kiwanis members brought sacks of food to donate to needy families in the area. Write a letter to the editor. Email editor@sfsentinel.com or mail to The Sentinel 42 E. 300 N., Spanish Fork, UT 84660 |