Magician thrills historical society

Feb. 1, at their headquarters on the second floor of the Dunn Street Legion Hall, President Rob Smith opened the Westbrook Historical Society’s meeting. Ellie Saunders, a society director, reported on a new magazine, “Memories of Maine,” the latest edition has an article on Larry Brooks, famous singer and actor from Westbrook. Ellie had helped gather information about him, and the editors, in appreciation, sent complimentary copies for historical society members.

Diane Dyer, also a society director, introduced the speaker, magician Bob Nixon of Auburn. He speaks and entertains at many functions, and has entertained many school groups from elementary through college. His magical abilities have been published in the “Magical Arts Journal,” a national publication. He has also entertained at trade shows and conventions.

There were 22 members present. They enjoyed the show, with Rob Smith and Dick Doughty invited up front to assist Nixon with some of his tricks.

In a balloon trick he pumped up a long, slim blue balloon with a hand pump. Then he put that balloon in his mouth and swallowed. Swallowed the balloon? What did happen? That was the mystery, for Nixon went right on talking.

Nixon next asked an audience member if he knew what he had just written on a card. The member answered “no,” then Nixon showed him the card, with the word “no” printed on that card.

We are aware of the numerous statements about historic places saying, “George Washington slept here,” or “George Washington ate here,” etc. “Well,” said Nixon, “No wonder, for we all know that Washington was called the father of our country!”

We were well-entertained, and there were many smiles on the members’ faces at the end of the program.

After the programs, there was time for visiting at the back of the hall where refreshments awaited us. This week, Betty Bragdon and Diane Dyer were pouring punch and serving many homemade goodies, including pineapple cookies (from Diane’s mother’s recipe), chocolate bars, small lemon tarts, and slices of homemade bread. Members bake and contribute these treats.

Diane showed me the new scrapbooks she is working on, cutting wedding pictures of Westbrook residents from an earlier scrapbook which is now in disrepair – a big job. Jim Sanderson, Donna Conley, and Ellie Saunders are among members who volunteer to work on the Society’s collections on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

In search of a smaller cart

If a shopper at the supermarkets is over 70 or 80, he or she undoubtedly looks for a small-size cart, but they are scarce where I often shop. In fact, one market has only one size in shopping carts – large. They aren’t hard to push, but they are hard to maneuver, especially when other shoppers leave their carts in the middle of the aisle, when searching the shelves for their item. Also, the large carts are hard to turn around, if you want to go back to the main aisle.

Last week I searched briefly in the parking lot for a small cart before entering the store, but had to give up and accept the oversize cart in the lobby. I noticed a pleasant, older man who was pushing a small cart, I asked him jokingly if he’d like to swap carts, explaining that I couldn’t find a small one outside the store. He told me where in the lobby they keep the small ones. I did know that, but those were all in use that day. Anyhow, the percentage of the blue small size carts must be very low compared to the red large ones. I’ve heard people say that management plans it that way wanting you to buy more.

Anyhow, the pleasant man with the blue cart passed me again in the store, and asked if I still would like to swap. How nice of him – but I was quite embarrassed, thanked him, and said I was getting along OK.

More on the stranded granny

We had a brief account in our Jan. 25 column about the 88-year-old lady who was trapped in her car for five days (the New York Post article said six days), after she went down an embankment and into a blackberry bramble.

The Jan. 14 Boston Herald article said that she was heading home from the grocery store when she misjudged a corner and sent off the road, tipping her Cadillac Seville into a steep drop-off. Her groceries were out of reach, in the trunk.

We reported that she survived by wiping condensation off the windshield with a towel, and sucked the moisture. She also “distracted herself” by praying, talking to her guardian angel, and repeatedly counting to 500 and back.

One of her sons reported that news and added that Andrew Thompson, the delivery truck driver who spotted her car, “is definitely sort of an angel.”

News about two musicians

We read a brief article in the Jan. 18 Boston Herald, under Classical Notes, with news that Yo-Yo Ma, “Cambridge’s own cello superstar,” has been named a United Nations peace ambassador.

That was the good news. In the same paragraph was the brief statement that conductor Seiji Ozawa, director laureate of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, had canceled an upcoming new production of Mozart’s “Idomeneo” at the Vienna State Opera, due to an unspecified illness. According to German press reports, Ozawa, 70, is recuperating at home in Japan.

Then in the Feb. 2 Boston Herald is a more detailed account, with the headline “Rest ordered for ailing Ozawa, but Tanglewood still in plans.”

His doctors have advised him to cancel all performances planned for 2006 because he needs extended rest.

He became music director of the Vienna State Opera in 2002 after an unprecedented 29 seasons as music director of the B.S.O.

This article reported that he became ill last month. In Japan he was admitted to a hospital for treatment of a bronchial infection and a shingles infection that has affected one of his eyes.

I was sorry to read about the shingles and the eye, as I have friends who have had severe problems with shingles in that area.

But, Mark Volpe, managing director of the Boston Symphony, said that Ozawa still looks forward to his appearance at Tanglewood this summer. Ozawa is scheduled to conduct the B.S.O. Aug. 5, the first time since 2002 at the orchestra’s Tanglewood summer home in Lenox, Mass.

We wish him a full recovery.

RECIPE

Valentine’s Day is coming on Tuesday, Feb. 14. I made Bea Straw’s Valentine Dessert Squares this week, and will print it again this year, as I did in 2002. Our family enjoyed it so much that I may repeat it next weekend, instead of our annual Valentine Meringue Heart tinted pink, and after baking, filling it with vanilla ice cream and covering that with strawberries. Or perhaps I may prepare both. I used raspberry

Jell-O in Bea’s squares, and they have a real Valentine look.

VALENTINE DESSERT SQUARES

One 3-oz. pkg. of red Jell-O

1 cup crushed pineapple

1/3 cup of drained pineapple juice, mixed with 1-1/2 cups of hot water

18 graham crackers

1-1/2 cups of Cool Whip

2 tbls. sugar

1/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Combine Jell-O, hot water and juice. Let it set until syrupy. (I wasn’t sure when it would become syrupy, so I put mine in the freezer until it just started to thicken).

Place nine crackers (crushed) in an 8-inch square pan. Combine crushed pineapple, Cool Whip, and nuts. Place on top of crumbs. (I do not add the 2 Tbls. of sugar). Crush nine more crackers and spread on top of the Cool Whip mixture. Then pour the syrup on top of this and chill. Bea says you may want to double this. She also puts Cool Whip on the top. I did not, as the red Jell-O looks so Valentine-like as it is.

Bea also suggests that you could use green Jell-O and make this same recipe for St. Patrick’s Day.

Copy the Story Link