Spring blooms clubs busy with activities

The Whip-poor-will Garden Club celebrated its 50th year with a fabulous gathering this month at Harrison Lake Country Club. The decorations were a celebration in themselves, with gold enhancements and beautiful flowers adorning the tables, thanks to a great organizing committee of Linda Elmerick, Karen Jones and April Bardonner.

The celebration was very well attended by members, including four of the charter members: Helen Sharpnack, Ruth Johnson, Pat Peters and MaryLu Orr, who were duly honored. Guests and charter members were welcomed by the club president, Lee Ann Vorndran.

Harrison Lake Country Club Chef Dan Grunden served the usual delicious luncheon of roasted red pepper soup with grilled cheese croutons, chicken bacon ranch in a tomato wrap, a club in a spinach wrap and cherries jubilee for dessert.

Ruth Johnson gave a wonderful history of the Whip-poor-will Garden Club, founded in 1966, and some highlights along the way which included the founding of Harrison Lake and the country club by Q.G. Noblitt in the 1940s. Noblitt also founded Noblitt Lagoons and Grandview Lake. Scrapbooks to peruse were shared by club historian Carol Rumple.

Clubs active

The Shakespeare Club met at the beautiful home of Jill Tasker and Doug Stender. Cindy McMillin and Helen Sharpnack were co-hostesses. A hearty and delicious selection of cheeses and desserts were served.Honorary member David Brailow presented a program entitled “Shakespeare in Art,” consisting of a slideshow with connections to Shakespeare and his plays, with Shakespearean actors David Garrick, Edmund Keane, Sarah Siddons and others. The slides encouraged discussion about how the plays might have looked to audiences of the time. We were delighted to have David’s daughter, Anna, in attendance.

The Magazine Club had its March meeting at the Columbus Regional Hospital “Think Tank,” a truly extraordinary addition to the lower level of the hospital. Members enjoyed box lunches served by the hospital dining service and listened to a very enlightening talk from Steve Thompson, director of new facilities construction, and from Julie Abedian, director of the Columbus Regional Health Foundation, who explained what is new with the hospital and health system.

The hostess was Mary Stroh with co-hostesses Kathryn Glover, Betsy Kieffer, Beth Stroh and Brenda Sullivan. The next meeting will give members a chance to learn about Love Chapel, on site, with Elizabeth Kestler as hostess.

Check it out

Music coming up not to be missed is by the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic at 7:30 p.m. April 30 in Judson Erne Auditorium at Columbus North High School. The concert features the very gifted concertmaster Benjamin Hoffman performing Beethoven’s violin concerto. Also, the ensemble will perform a symphony by Johannes Brahms and a waltz by Johann Strauss.Equally entertaining at the Harlequin Theatre will be “Love Letters,” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and April 30. It stars Jill Tasker and Doug Stender. Tickets are $15 advance, $20 at door. Call 812-343-4597 for information.

Additional thoughts

The promise of spring has finally arrived and it is a joy following that of the Easter season. The warm weather finally caught up with us regardless of the fact that the blossoms have desperately tried to bloom, as is their wont according to the calendar.Kudos to the old and the new owners of the Viewpoint Books. So happy to have you!

The National Republican Convention will be July 19 to 27 in Cleveland, Ohio. Denise Pence, a Columbus resident, will be among the 57 delegates representing Indiana at the convention.

This is certainly a very exciting and interesting election year, to say the very least. Social media in all its forms has enlightened many about the process.