LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY
Well, fall has officially arrived and the weather has cooled off this week so that it feels like the real deal. Jim got the yard mowed again over the weekend and we recently trimmed several bushes and cut some sprouts out of my flowerbeds, so we have the place slicked up pretty nice. We’re also delighted that work is progressing on clearing the old nursing home property just across the fence. I took a picture of the building Thursday and the photo was timely since the east-west wing was completely demolished by the end of the week.
The football team is rolling right along. Since rain continued through the afternoon on the 16th, we decided to change our plans and backed out of going to the game at Jay. The Lions came through with a victory despite our absence and then, this last Friday, continued their winning ways with a shutout of the Lincoln team. Unfortunately, our Razorbacks didn’t fare too well this week.
Even though we skipped the Jay game, the weekend was a busy one. Activities started on Thursday with the 40th anniversary reception for the senior activity center. On Friday, Jim took me to Noel to eat a delicious buffet meal; and Saturday was full with working at the Lions Club yard sale in the morning, a quilt class session in the afternoon and a visit from sister Nancy that evening. Then on Sunday afternoon I attended a going away party in Old Town Park for a young couple from our congregation who are moving from Sulphur Springs to Bentonville.
The full schedule continued last week with meetings of the school board on Monday, Lions Club Tuesday and city council on Thursday. At midweek, I interviewed the pastor of the Christian Church and wrote up his story for this week’s paper. I visited a few yard sales with friends on Friday and found some bargain clothing, a new scrapbook and a vinyl tablecloth for the patio table. On Saturday, Jim and I visited our son and grandson Matthew and on Sunday I attended the “Increase Your Faith” circuit assembly of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Springdale.
Appetites increase as the cooler weather arrives, so an abundance of food gifts has been welcome. When Nancy visited, she brought us two dozen nice brown eggs along with some of her husband’s specialty breads and rolls. Earlier that day, a friend had given me a bag of apples picked from her brother’s tree in New Mexico and a sample of her apple butter. One of Jim’s buddies stopped him recently and gave him a chicken and a carton of chicken livers. Guess I should prepare him a fried chicken dinner sometime soon.
As the changing autumn leaves bring their lovely fall colors to the Ozark hills, it’s a good time to sell real estate. One of my high school classmates called last week and reported she’d sold her home and was planning to buy a smaller one. I learned on Friday that friends on Stagecoach Road had bought my aunts’ former home on El Paso Street and were fixing it up. I’d say prospects are good for my friend in Tulsa who’s hoping to sell her home and downsize soon.
A travel article in this month’s AARP magazine suggests, “The last languid days of the season beg for a quick escape.” We agree and we’re planning another little two-night getaway this weekend. If the weather forecast is correct, the cooler weather will continue and we may need to take along a sweater as our accommodations are near the water.
Susan Holland is a lifelong resident of Benton County and an employee of the Westside Eagle Observer. She can be reached by email at sholland@ nwadg.com. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
It began about a month ago. No, that’s not entirely true. It began about five or six months ago when he — I call him Scout — arrived at our hummingbird feeders. I didn’t note the day, I just know I put the feeders out sometime in April.
It was early one morning. I glanced out the patio door and there he was, sipping nectar from one of the feeders. I’d swear he was the same bird I had seen late last fall. But who could be sure? His size, and since hummingbirds all look alike (make that almost) while they whir their wings and slip that long beak and tongue into the feeder, makes identification virtually impossible.
I watched him several minutes. I’d call him Rudy. That sounds similar to Ruby, with a bright red vest he seemed to flaunt proudly.
There was a persistent pattern to his feeding regimen. He would sip nectar with several jabs into the fake flower of the feeder, then he would flit to sit on a chain that leads to a light fixture. There he would preen himself for several minutes. After glancing right and left, if birds call directions right and left, he would zoom
I want to take a brief moment to thank the voters who participated in the annual school election held Sept. 20. A record number of voters — compared to voting numbers over the last 25 years of Gentry school elections — turned out. All told, 368 votes were cast. A little more than again to the feeder. Repetition was the hallmark of the day.
I’ve heard, and I have no idea if it’s true or not, that a scout bird arrives and helps direct his brood to the waiting feast that hummer watchers provide each year. It may be so, because two days later the whir of several delicate little creatures buzzed the deck. And who appeared to be the old red breast and continued occupying his favorite perch on the chain? It had to be Rudy, who darted occasionally to replenish his seemingly bottomless stomach. The movie, and it was a constant moving display of wings and whirs, continued several days until one day only one or two birds remained.
Occasionally Rudy, yep, I’ll always call that first bird Rudy, would dive bomb the feeders, which was a trait that I thought was somewhat out of character. As I took notice, the dive bomber was selective in his bombing strafes. It seems his territory was being threatened by occasional intruders. The pattern continued until about five or six weeks ago when it appeared a flock, make that double or triple flocks, descended on the feeders. two thirds supported the 3.1 mill increase needed to fund construction of a new intermediate school and a diesel technician building. I know also, in my heart, that those who voted otherwise had their reasons. My thanks for voting goes to both groups.
The Westside Eagle Observer invites and encourages letters from its readers. All letters must include the author’s complete name and an address and telephone number for verification purposes. Letters must not contain libelous or slanderous statements or profanity. The editor reserves the right to edit or condense letters as required by space limitations and to reject any letter deemed unworthy of publication. Letters should be legible, preferably typewritten and double-spaced or sent by email. Please limit letters to 250 words. No letters pertaining to a ballot issue will be published during a 48-hour period prior to an election. No letters pertaining to an individual candidate will be published.