November 14 Luncheon - Thanksgiving

This month, we enjoyed some great music by our own Washington Heights Ladies Quartet. The quartet is made up of Nancy Jensen, Annie Orme, Grace Averitt and Jane Weiss. The music was perfect to focus our attention on Thanksgiving. They sang “We Are So Blessed” and “Give Thanks”. You can hear their music by Clicking on the Links. Or watch the following video

Note, there was a problem with my recording at the beginning, so it is somewhat truncated. Sorry about that!

Our program focus this month was a Thanksgiving Message by Greg Poe. You can listen to a portion of it, HERE. I am pleased to have Greg succeeding me as your leader, effective January 1, 2018. Greg spoke to our group before as a Banker. In addition to the message, he gave some insight into future plans for our group. I honestly look forward to more good years assisting Greg and enjoying times with him and all of you. He also introduced his Advisory Board. Contact any board member to share your ideas. I'll share the names in our Newsletter.

Greg Poe

Another part of this program that everyone truly enjoyed was the meal prepared by Lisa and the Young@Heart kitchen staff. Well done! Thanks to all of our Dining Room and Kitchen Volunteers.

 As always, Click on any Image for a Larger View!

Our December Program will include “Harps of Grace” led by Leslie Stratton. Leslie has entertained us several times and last year she also brought her group. You will enjoy this group. It is and outstanding program. Come and bring your guests.

This is a photo of Harps of Grace when they performed for us last year

Young@Heart Day Trip to Scioto Hills

This week, October 12, 2017, we drove over to Scioto Hills for their Senior Saints program. This was unfortunately also billed as a Fall Color tour, but mostly is was gray and rainy. We are still on the leading edge of the Fall Color season but, you will see in the photo, there was some color by the pond, if you ventured outside the dining hall, to see it!

We had a good number of people with 39 of us going. We even added a second bus. Actually, our group represented about a third of those in attendance.

Remember: Click any image for a larger view

Scioto Hills Church Camp always does a nice job for us by providing a nice meal and good musical entertainment.

Interestingly, our meal was Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Cole Slaw, Chips and a Pumpkin Cake for dessert with coffee. This pretty was similar to our most recent YAH Luncheon on Tuesday. They should have asked us first!  LOL

After lunch Scott Bruns gave us a presentation about the camp and future plans and needs. We really need for them to purchase the additional land that will provide better travel access! We were also able to wander a bit and I took a few photos. Later editing brought out the hiding color!

Our program this time was Glory Way Quartet. They are an outstanding Gospel Quartet. One of their singers, the deep base, is from Dayton, another from Mansfield, Nashville and West Virginia. We’ve heard most of this group before but the gentleman from West Virginia is new.

I'm including a selection of videos that I took of them performing. I think you will agree, they are GOOD! (I mean the music, not my videos)

It’s a Great Morning 

Turn Your Back 

Chain Breaker 

Walk with Me 

Following the program, Scott Bruns opened the Camp Store where we could shop for Christmas! The quartet also sold their CDs and other items.

Our next Day Trip will be to La Comedia for their Christmas Program. “Timeless Memories of Christmas”. We have a limited number of seats reserved so be sure to reserve your seats, with payment, early! That program will be on November 30th, leaving church at 10:15am.

October 10, Luncheon Program - John Louis: on the Edge of Illusions

Our prelude music today was from an album by the King’s Brass and Organ. I reminded the group that one of the former King’s Brass Trumpeters was the grandson of our first Young@Heart leader, Pastor Jim Neely, Daniel Lewis. I don’t know if he played on this album.

Today, we used another first for the group. One of our people suggested that we use John Louis (no relation to Daniel Lewis). So, I used this as a commercial for our next leader, Greg Poe. He would like to use a sampling of members to form an Advisory Board to provide advice for programs and trips. If you are interested, let Lisa Poe, Greg Poe or me (Roger Jensen) know. We need to get this started, soon.

John Louis bills himself as John Louis: on the Edge of Illusions. And that is truly what he does. No magic, just slight of hand and illusions.

John did some fun things such as turn colorful bits of cloth into a beautiful Rainbow Umbrella. 

Remember: As always - Just click any Photo for a LARGER VIEW!

Also, the favorite old rope pieces tricks.

He even made a Rabbit appear and brought doves from a fiery pan! I’ve never seen that one before. I assume you would have a Squab Meal, if it didn't work!

He had Carmela Fiorito come up to help with one trick using colorful balls and he made a handful of lively balls appear in her hands. Later, she asked me “How did he do that?” I’m not telling.

Here is a short video of this portion of the program.

Then, "to end it all", but I fooled everyone, I’m still here. He stuck a sword through my throat!!! Ouch. I can still talk about it and my head didn’t fall off. But, I am holding it on.  :-)

If you want to listen to the entire program, click the following link.
http://www.whbc.org/media/audio/20171010_JohnLouis.mp3

 Next month, I will still be your leader, but you will get a closer look at the next Young@Heart Leader, Greg Poe. He will present a Thanksgiving Program. We will also hear from our outstanding Ladies Trio. And Lisa will be cooking a special Thanksgiving meal. Be sure to join us on November 14 for a wonderful Thanksgiving Luncheon!

Spittin’ Image–September 12

Our September 2017 luncheon program featured Spittin’ Image – Brian and Blain, identical twins!

But, before anything else, we had some nice piano and organ music by Grace Averitt and Nancy Jensen. They are always good to hear. And pleasant on the eyes, too! Of course, I am prejudiced.

We always enjoy the crazy stories and good down home music of the twins. They play guitar, mandolin and harmonica. Of course they sing, too!

I am also including several videos that I think you will enjoy hearing and seeing again.

Video 1  https://youtu.be/z_5Mfa4CNTM

Video 2  https://youtu.be/Ot_CN7CUo_w

Video 3  https://youtu.be/KiMXcSRxPiY

Video 4  https://youtu.be/71ztNJySIhg

After their program, I announced that I am retiring at the end of this year. I have held this position for 10 years and thoroughly enjoyed getting to know you all. I will still be around and will participate with you. However, after the first of 2018, Greg Poe will take over the reigns of this program and the Senior Adult Ministries for Washington Heights Baptist Church. 

Most of you are familiar with Greg. He is Lisa Poe’s husband and frequently serves you in the dining room for our luncheons. He has also spoken to our group in the past and will be featured again at our November Thanksgiving Luncheon. Be sure to come for that and get to know him better.

I will be working with Greg and Lisa to insure a smooth transition into the new year. Greg already has some great plans for the group and announced the formation of an Advisory Board to help with program planning. If you are interested, please contact the church office and talk with Lisa Poe, letting her know your interest in participating. This is your program, please help it continue to succeed.

This isn’t farewell, I will still be involved for the remainder of 2017. Thank you all for your support and friendship. I love you all! 

Please embrace Greg as well as you have me! I look forward to continued friendships and supporting from "the back of the bus and room". Please join me in supporting Greg Poe.

In our October 10 Luncheon, we will feature new entertainment, John Lewis "On the Edge of Illusion". Be sure to join us October 10 at 11AM.

Beauty and the Beast–LaComedia

August 18, 2017 we enjoyed the musical Beauty and the Beast at LaComedia in Springboro, Ohio.

In my opinion, this was one of their best plays. I think many of the performers, perhaps most, were from the area. However, several including the lead parts were from places like New York and California.

There were 25 of us, however, we did not sell all of the tickets to our Young@Heart people, so I bought several tickets to bring our daughter, her husband and our granddaughter. I think everyone was happy with the performances.

This is our daughter Michele, and Granddaughter Abegael. Isn’t she beautiful. Obviously, she doesn’t get her looks from Grandpa.

Of course, we all go to LaComedia to also enjoy their very good buffet.

Most of you know the story line but to keep it simple, it starts with a prince who becomes a beast because of his poor behavior. Now, someone must love him before the last petal of the rose dies. So, we watch the prince and the rose to see if anyone will love him prior to that last petal falling. 

This was the projected image on the stage curtain

Since they won’t allow photos or video during the performance, I have to rely on photos before and after the performance.

Sorry to say, I also relied totally on my smart phone as a camera, Although it does a decent job in good light, it is not good in the kind of subdued light of the theater dining room. So forgive me for the photo quality of the dining room photos.

The following photo is Belle as she greets the guests after the show.

The next photos were done by our son-in-law, after we exited. They stayed around long enough to get better photos with more of the cast. So this photo credit goes to our daughter, Michele Koerber and son-in-law, Jim Koerber. Michele and granddaughter, Abegael are included in the photos.

Our next trip will be to Scioto Hills for a musical program and fall color drive in October. Be sure to sign up for that one during our next Young@Heart Luncheon on September 12.