LIFE, HEALTH & HAPPINESS FOR NORTH WHIDBEY’S 50-PLUS CROWD VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 10 • APRIL 2015
Important Things To Remember 2015 SPRING TRAVEL SIGN- UPS THURSDAY, APRIL 2 8:30am-3:00pm The Oak Harbor Senior Activity Center bingo players wish to give a big shout out and thank you to Windemere Real Estate for furnishing us with a cake every 2nd Thursday of each month. We appreciate your support for our Center and naturally love the attention to our sweet tooth. Thank you Windemere.
A MUSLIM AND A CHRISTIAN REFLECT ON VIOLENT EXTREMISM! Once in a great while, a small and quiet event occurs that is an opportunity which should not be missed. Such an event will be happening on April 27th, 2015, from 7:00 to 9:00pm at the Oak Harbor Library Meeting Room. Two men, good friends, a Muslim and a Christian, will hold a discussion where they reflect together on violent extremism. Each will IMPORTANT THINGS continued on page 2
INSIDE THIS EDITION Guest Spot..................... Pg. 2 Travel............................ Pg. 3 Activities & Events........... Pg. 4 Calendar....................... Pg. 5 Library Events................. Pg. 6 Menu............................. Pg. 6 Volunteer of the Month... Pg. 7 Sudoku Puzzle................ Pg. 7
WHY, OH WHY DO WE CELEBRATE APRIL FOOLS DAY? By Barb Spence
I have always been curious about why intelligent, common sense, everyday normal, decent people get crazy about April Fools Day. Since I was a little girl I have hated this day. My big brother used to do mean pranks on his little sisters. So my introduction to the day was tainted by my victimization from a brother who found the day frankly exhilarating.
According to a Wikipedia report, the day is celebrated every year as a day when people play practical jokes and hoaxes on each other. The jokes and their victims are known as “April fools”. Hoax stories may be reported by the press and other media on this day and explained on subsequent days. Popular since the 19th century, the day is not a national holiday in any country, but it is well known in Canada, Europe, Australia, Brazil and the United States.
No one really knows how or why April Fools Day got started. According to some old myths, April Fools day stems from people who refused to adopt the Gregorian calendar in favor of the older Julian calendar when it was established in the 16th century Europe. While most adjusted to the new calendar, which moved the New Year from April 1 to Jan. 1, those who refused to recognize the change were reportedly subjected to pranks and ridicule and were rumored to have been called “April Fools” for observing the holiday months later.
The Museum of Hoaxes lists the top “100 April Fool’s Day Hoaxes of All Time”, judged by notoriety, creativity, and the number of people duped. The prank, which took place in 1957 on the respected BBC news show, Panorama, pranked the listening audience by reporting that “thanks to a very mild winter and the virtual elimination of the dreaded spaghetti weevil, Swiss farmers were enjoying a bumper crop.” The result was that 100s of people called the BBC to find out how to grow their own spaghetti tree.
If you are interested in finding out what the other 99 famous hoaxes were, you can find a plethora of information on the Museum of Hoaxes web site. I’m not fooling!
Paying It Forward! By Barb Spence
Most of us will agree that giving our time to important causes in our community is what is at the heart and soul of their successes. Oak Harbor has a volunteer base that supports many different organizations that can always use extra help. Most of the organizations operate on a very small budget and rely heavily on volunteers to accomplish their goals. That volunteer base can always be bigger. There comes a time when a shift from talking about action for change to actually doing the things for change needs to happen. Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Or, as an old fisherman once said, “you gotta fish or cut bait”. Talking the talk will only get us so far. There comes a time when we have to start walking it. Our Opportunity Council says it best: “Acting as catalysts and leaders in organizing whatever is needed to build stronger communities. Community Action-based programs work with partners in our communities to address local emerging needs. Community Action changes people’s lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live.” Our Island community has a long list of different organizations that need volunteers on a regular basis. This article features just a few of them.
CADA (Citizens Against Domestic and Sexual Assault)
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Island County
CADA is Island County’s domestic violence and sexual assault agency. CADA advocates for vic-
For more than a century, Big Brothers Big Sisters has helped children reach their potential through
professionally supported relationships with proven results. Big Brothers Big Sisters matches children in one-to-one relationships based on friendship. Matched with caring volunteers, children gain new experiences while having fun. The agency is always seeking volunteers who possess high standards, are stable, honest and live with integrity in their lives. They assist children of every ethnic, racial, national, cultural and religious group in Island County who may need additional positive role models to further enrich their lives. For information call: 360-279-0644
FORWARD continued on page 2