| March 2009 March on, Classmates! The tax season is in full swing for this accountant. Every year I prepare fewer returns but I do enjoy keeping my hand in. Staying current with the ever-changing tax code is a perpetual challenge. Now it is time to replace my CPA calculator with my editor eyeshade and share the latest news of our classmates. <-----> Linda Lawson Miller sent this note. After graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, I headed to Spring Valley, NY to live and teach K-6 art in the Ramapo public school system. After 5 years at Hempstead School, I left my teaching job and started a business using my creative talents to make custom leather coats and suits, hand-embroidered peasant blouses and cowboy-styled shirts. In 1972, I moved to Maine, fell in love with the beauty of the state and the people there, and have lived here ever since. My husband, Jim, also an artist, and I live on Lake Sebasticook in Newport, ME and feel very fortunate to have such an inspiring environment in which to work and be creative. In 1984, we started our own business, Miller Signs and Graphics, making carved, gold leaf signs and doing various other types of commercial artwork, but always working on our own art. After many years of working in our business, I have gotten back to painting more and looking for venues to show my work. My other real passion is dancing...particularly swing dancing. Fortunately for me, my husband is also very interested in dancing. In the past, we have had lots of fun teaching swing dancing weekly ...now we only do a monthly swing workshop. Once the weather breaks we will put away the snowshoes and start working on our flower and veggie gardens....AND start playing tennis again. Yahoo! You can view some of my artwork at www.valleyartsalliance.org and www.lindalawsonmiller.com , and some of our commercial art at www.millerart.com and www.millersignsandgraphics.com . 
I can see your artistry in the garden, Linda. What a peaceful, inspirational setting for you and Jim. Thanks for sharing. <-----> While we are on the subject of art, Sondra Flowers Hopper has been nominated for a SAMMI. On February 25, she was notified by email of her nomination in the Arts category. Here, let her tell us about it. Hello Everyone!
I am so excited to be a nominee for this award! The Sammamish Chamber of Commerce wanted us to spread the word, so that is what I am doing. Come and join us if you can! Here is some info that the newspapers published on the SAMMI awards. "The Board of Directors of the SAMMI Awards of Distinction has announced the 2009 SAMMI Award nominees. The SAMMI awards celebrate and honor those who make unselfish contributions, and inspire others to contribute to the quality of life in Sammamish. The awards are presented annually to members of the community. There are nine categories, each of which recognizes individuals for their positive impact in Sammamish.
Sondra Hopper has been nominated in the Arts Category. This award is given to an individual who enriches the arts by spreading enthusiasm for, promoting awareness of, and helping to create a rich, cultural environment in our city. For 23 years, Sondra has been involved in bringing music to our community. She founded the Sammamish Music club in 1992 and served as president for nine years. She started the annual piano festival and piano competition in Sammamish, and every March over 300 students are showcased. She maintains a private studio and inspires her students to share their love of music with others in the community. Sondra has always supported the arts and will continue to do so in the future."
Wish me luck. There are three other women in the ARTS category, and I don't know any of them. Anyway--I have tons of people coming to support me---my kids, grandkids, friends, students and their parents. It will be exciting if I win, because I will get to hear my cheering section! My granddaughter wants to know if she can come up on stage. I will let you know what happens.
We are rooting for you all the way! Best of luck!! <-----> This winter has been brutal in central Ohio so I was excited when Dennis Jackson sent photos of Arizona. Ahhh, sun, sand, cactus.....well, not quite. I know these photos look more like Alaska than Arizona but we actually had 20 to 30 inches below the Rim last week. Our normal is 5 to 6 inches that melt off the next day. It was beautiful, even though a little bit of a nuisance as we had to dig out the doorway to get into the cabin, and remove 40 inches from the west deck ... worried about the weight. The snow had slid off the metal roof on each side, and just buried the decks.
<-----> In the last week we heard from Tom Mori, Susie Donovan Mooney's caregiver and friend. Her continued battle with leukemia and her recovery from a bone marrow transplant has its ups and downs but she has a fighting spirit and a positive attitude like I have never seen before. Here are excerpts from Tom's notes. 2/21/09 Hello friends of Sue Mooney, Well, Sue is back in the James because she has developed three different viruses. She has CMV, EBV, and RSV. The last was discovered this past Tuesday, and Sue was immediately placed in a total isolation room, which cleanses its own air. She is taking meds for the RSV virus through a mask, with oxygen, that permits the meds to go directly into her lungs. As I'm sure you also know, she has a blood clot in her left lung, along with pneumonia. She is extremely weak, and visitors are limited to family. Please keep Sue in your prayers as she recovers from these viruses. The doctors are quite confident she will recover, but it will take time. Sue's caregiver, Tom Mori 2/24/09 Hello again, Sue is doing much better. Yesterday she sat in the recliner in her room for 4 hours. That was the first time in over a week that she has been out of bed and sitting upright. Again today she has been sitting up and reading the paper. They took the medicated mask away yesterday morning. Her appetite is slowly returning, and she can walk around the small isolation room. We don't know how much longer she will be in that room, but we hope not too much longer. Will keep you informed about her progress as time permits. Tom Mori
Prayers and good thoughts are forthcoming, Tom. Thanks for keeping us up to date. <-----> March birthdays: Ann Lawson Sanderson Karen Murfield Faircloth David Bertram Linda Brackney Spradlin Ken Brown Gene Buckingham Sondra Flowers Hopper Nancy Hough Bendle Sharon Kiernan Maggard Steve O'Keefe These birthdays were listed in the class directory. If I have overlooked anyone, please let me know. | |