Mt. Vernon resident Billie Bullard, who turned 101 on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022, celebrates her (almost) birthday with friends and family at the John Day Senior Center on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022.

JOHN DAY — First of all, a big thanks goes to the Grant County Jammers. They come to play and sing for us for two hours before lunch each Monday. Anyone one who wishes to, is welcome to come and share with all this great music.

On Monday, July 15, Dave Pasko was alone at the desk to greet everyone and take care of business. Elsie was in Boise for doctors’ appointments. Darlene came but was feeling so poorly she went home. No one else was there that was experienced, so he worked alone. He did a good job, and did the announcing, and paperwork after lunch, and the bank deposit, too. When times are tough, the tough get going. Dave led everyone in the flag salute to get things going.

Fifty-seven fresh meals were delivered throughout our area by Maurita Coombs, Jeannette Julsrud, Carolyn Stout, and Kathy (whose last name did not get noted). Thanks to each one of you for your service of love for others.

The Living Word Church was represented by several members as our servers. Their names did not get on the list. We are thankful for all our volunteers. There were 18 in-house diners and six takeouts for this Monday. All in all, there were 81 meals that were served from our kitchen that day.

Dale Stennett asked the blessing for our meal and then we dined on ham and scalloped potatoes, veggie salad, peas and bread with butter.

Jeff Jones won the Chester’s card, and Mike Bowe won the free meal. Congratulations to both of you.

On Thursday, July 18, Loni and Darlene were at the desk to greet everyone and get things done. Darlene was feeling better, so she assisted Elsie in getting announcements ready as Elsie was feeling poorly at the time. Linda Fifer volunteered to do the announcements and she did very well. Thanks, Linda, for all your help.

Vern Fifer led the flag salute and Linda asked the blessing for our meal. There were approximately 26 diners gathered around the tables and there were 11 takeouts. There were 60 fresh meals and 33 frozen meals delivered throughout our community by Sharmaine, Ken, Jeanette, and Mike and Pati. Thanks to each of you for your service of love for others.

There were 130 meals served from our kitchen this day. Congratulations, Jeff, Alesa, Nancy, Valeda and Chris. To get all the delivered meals out, clean the kitchen, get lunch ready for in-house dining and then cleaning up again is a huge task. You guys are the best.

The Methodist Church was represented by Kathy Smith as our server for this day, so Valeda from the kitchen helped serve. A great job was done, and the cleanup was swift, and all was done with smiles and quick chats. What a great way to serve our seniors. Thanks to you both.

Sonie Guttu won the Chester’s card, and Carol Roe won the free meal. Congratulations to both of you.

We had a few days of a heat wave and then the fires started and now we cannot even see our mountains. Please keep our firefighters in your prayers, for their safety. That is a job not many would be able to do or want to do. My heart goes out to all the asthmatic people in the area. They really suffer in smoke, and hazy days, too.

Len’s has been gifting our center with gift cards for door prizes for quite a while, but the people who win them are not using them at the store. They tell us if people don’t use them, they probably don’t care to have them, so they just won’t provide them anymore unless they see some come in. Please use the Len’s gift cards. Use the Chester’s cards, too.

Jeanette gets a big thank you for donating the most asked-for drink: lemonade. Many people ask for lemonade for their drink with lunch. Thanks, Jeanette.

Joe Phippen brought in fresh squash and lettuce from his home garden. Wow! Thanks, Joe.

Proverbs 11:17 A person who is kind benefits themselves, but a cruel person hurts themselves.

MONUMENT — No column this week.

PRAIRIE CITY — Hot enough for ya? Our old swamp cooler didn’t get repaired in time for today’s meal, but the cooks had left theirs on and enough cool air filtered through to help the dining room stay tolerable through the meal. Hopefully, next week …

Meanwhile, Misty had information that may lead to us getting a grant for the newfangled mini-splits. Now wouldn’t that be something for the old Hall! Would probably have to get some newer electric wiring to support it, but maybe there is a grant for that, too! Progress, progress.

We had a short crew today due to people having to take care of other things, but Gwynne, Mary, Ginger, Teresa, Pam and Deb managed to get the before and after chores accomplished. Thank you much, ladies.

Juan led the flag salute and Ginger asked the blessing. The free meal went to Colin Kolb. It was announced that our good friend Jim Sullens is in St. Al’s hospital in Boise with a broken hip. Prayers for his recovery are going up. We want to remind you to continue to bring your empty redeemable bottles and cans to our Center. Every little bit helps, you know.

Our cooks changed the menu to reflect the hot weather, so we had cold ham and turkey sandwiches with all kinds of fixin’s for your eating enjoyment: lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, olives, grapes, watermelon, cantaloupe, etc., etc. Then there was the dessert: icebox eclair cake … with chocolate frosting! Mmmmm, good! Kudos to Pam and Pam. This meal was sponsored by Shannon and Wanda Voigt in memory of John Coombs.

Next week will still be hot weather, so we will have another cool meal: Pulled pork sandwiches and coleslaw with rice pudding. So y’all come. The Davis boys made it from Mt. Vernon today, so you can, too. And thanks to Joe for the summer squash that he brought in for your enjoyment. (He couldn’t believe that I don’t eat squash. Closest I come is pumpkin pie …)

My cucumbers and cantaloupes are blossoming and putting out little vine anchors. Do I put some supports around the edge of the tub for them, or let them run onto the front deck, or down the sides of the tubs onto the — and I use the term loosely — lawn? Decisions, decisions. If they pollinate each other, will I get a yellow cucumber and a green cantaloupe? Hmmm.

Pulled a carrot to thin a bit of row and make sure that they were actually growing an edible root. Yep. And it was a couple inches long and centimeter wide. Three weeks to the fair. Will have to measure again then.

Genesis 1:11 Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so.