~a column by Colleen O’Brien I’m told by the “be here now” folks that I’m supposed to be living in the present. The meditators and the metaphysicalists claim this is the road to happiness on this plane. Being here now is problematic, however, because being here now means I have to keep thinking of now, which makes now very boring.…
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Vampires at Sierra Community Theatre
“Vampire Academy” opens a two-week run Friday at the Sierra Community Theatre. Starring Zoey Deutch, Lucy Fry and Danilla Kozlovsky, “Vampire Academy” tells the story of Rose Hathaway, half human and half vampire, who is guardian of the Moroi. The Moroi are mortal vampires living discreetly in the human world. Her legacy is to protect the Moroi from bloodthirsty, immortal…
Read MoreVisiting old friends
~a column by Colleen O’Brien I can remember reading the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam behind the couch in the living room when I was in grade school. I’m sure I missed a lot in the big scheme of things with this poetry, although the poems were easy reading– “a loaf of bread, a jug of wine and thou, underneath the…
Read More“Frozen” sing-along and “The Book Thief” at Sierra Community Theatre
The Disney movie “Frozen,” which delighted Sierra Community Theatre audiences in January, is returning as a 2-D sing-along version for a weekend run, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Based on a story by Hans Christian Anderson, the story tells of a search for Princess Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom in eternal winter. Produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios;…
Read MoreTree Tracings
Greene County Genealogical Society ~by Valerie Ogren Meeting notice: The next meeting will be Saturday, Feb. 1 at 10 a.m. in the basement of the Jefferson Public Library. Dennis Lautner will favor us with another visit and some “Trivia Fun.” Since we are all super sleuths when it comes to tracking down family history that should be a breeze. But…
Read MoreIowa county officials support fuel tax increase
WEST DES MOINES – The board of the directors of the Iowa State Association of Counties (ISAC) on Jan. 24 approved a resolution stating support of a fuel tax increase. Road funding is one of ISAC’s top legislative priorities this year as approved by the full membership.
Read MoreLetter to my grandfather
~a column by Colleen O’Brien Dear Grampa Tom, I’ve been thinking about you lately because of the absurdity of life in the 21st century. Knowing I think it’s absurd, I’m pretty sure you would have trouble believing it even if you lived it. Let’s see, you died at the age of 93 in 1972? ‘73? A ton of things have…
Read MoreAt Sierra Community Theatre: “Saving Mr. Banks”
Story line, written by Walt Disney Pictures “When Walt Disney’s daughters begged him to make a movie of their favorite book, P.L. Travers’ Mary Poppins, he made them a promise – one that he didn’t realize would take 20 years to keep. “In his quest to obtain the rights, Walt comes up against a curmudgeonly, uncompromising writer who has absolutely…
Read More“The part of your book that is good is not original and the part that is original is not good.”
quote from Samuel Johnson ~a column by Colleen O’Brien A friend of mine just sent me her first book, published recently by a small press in Colorado. I am mightily impressed. She’s been writing and rewriting for five years, turning out just about 360 words a day the first year, and then redoing it again and again for the editor who…
Read More“…just some puny humans playin’ around the toes o’ time.”
quote by Zora Neale Hurston ~a column by Colleen O’Brien So, what do you think of polls? Do you believe their results? Like right now, the Gallup Poll tells us that 12 percent of the population in the U.S. does not like Congress; does this ring true with you? George Gallup, born in Jefferson at the beginning of the last…
Read MoreShould old acquaintance be forgot…
~a column by Colleen O’Brien It is the end of what such a short time ago was a new year. My friend wrote to me last New Year’s day, “I have liked the numbers in 2013 — the steadiness of 20; the energy of 13, roundly full of promise.” 2013 was not, however, a promising year. For humanity, the planet…
Read MoreTree Tracings
Greene County Genealogical Society by Valerie Ogren Meeting Notice The next meeting will be Saturday, Jan. 4, at 10 am.in the Jefferson Public Library. Elaine Wiggins will present a program entitled “Letters To Pauline.” She will share letters her mother Pauline,received in the 1920’s. Another gentle reminder – dues are due. Annual dues are $7.50 for an individual or $10 for…
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