May is here. A glorious time of the year where the drabness of winter is replaced by the brilliance of color of a new growing season. It is absolutely one of my favorite times of year.
I don’t know about you but…
I really appreciate those that go to the extra time, effort and expense to beautify their little corner of the world. Seeing well-manicured lawns and yards that have attractive gardens and landscaping improves my outlook and disposition. That can’t be a bad thing, can it?
I don’t know about you but…
It is my opinion that the residents of Kewanee and the surrounding areas are fortunate to have many choices when it comes to purchasing items to help them beautify their yards. Besides nice garden centers at the corporate stores such as Farm King, Menards, Sullivan’s and Walmart, there are excellent privately owned greenhouses to choose from.
I have made purchases from Dew Fresh, Nature Creations and Sunnyfield over the years. I have also made purchases from the Galva and Kewanee FFA’s plant sales. If there are other choices that I missed please let me know so that I can check out their selections.
The first week of May is Teacher Appreciation Week. I don’t know about you but…
I hold educators in high regard. I have been involved in education in one form or another ever since I walked through the doors of the Lincoln Place Baptist Mission Preschool in Granite City, Ill. in 1956. In that time, I have had the good fortune to be taught by and to work with many exemplary educators. Now I am not saying every educator in that time was top notch. Like any profession there are substandard individuals in education. Regardless, I believe that teachers are some of the most important professionals in our society.
I don’t know about you but…
May also brings to mind Mother’s Day. I was blessed to have a mother that loved me unconditionally. She was both loving and tough as nails. Now there were times that I didn’t like my mother all that much. Like when it was necessary to discipline me or make tough decisions that a parent has to make for their child’s own good that I didn’t particularly care for. But I always loved her. I shudder to think how different life might have been without the love and guidance of my mother (and father). I guess I didn’t fully appreciate my parents until I became a parent myself. I wish my mother was still around so that I could celebrate Mother’s Day with her.
I don’t know about you but…
May also makes me think about graduation. I would like to wish all graduates, regardless of education level, good luck in their future endeavors. I believe that those graduating from secondary education and beyond are the future leaders of our country and the world. Hopefully many of them will not only be positive contributors to our society but go on to make our world a better place to live.
I don’t know about you but…
I would like to congratulate Alex Binek and Brittany Krohn and the Kewanee High School Band for winning a State Championship. A remarkable feat that is part of the IHSA State Championship series held for decades. While the KHS band has won numerous awards throughout the years, this is their first championship. Way to go!
Also don’t forget there is a special concert on May 11 at 7 p.m. in the Petersen Auditorium on the campus of Kewanee High School to celebrate the 100th birthday of the KHS band. Sponsored by the Kewanee Schools Foundation, the concert will also feature the Alumni and Friends All Star Wind Ensemble. It is truly remarkable that the band has been around for 100 years. Here is to anyone who has ever participated in the band since 1924.
I don’t know about you but…
I think that what the Group Interpretation program of Kewanee High School has accomplished is noteworthy. The GI program, under the direction of Heather Olalde since the 2009-2010 school year, qualified for state for the 18th consecutive year. This remarkable accomplishment, which is a school record for any co-curricular group, was done in a single class system. Through the years the GI program has competed against schools with enrollments much greater than Kewanee. Congratulations and keep up the good work. Hopefully the streak will continue next year.
I don’t know about you but…
Any discussion of the month of May is not complete without the mention of Memorial Day. The national holiday celebrated each May honors those who lost their lives while defending our country. As a bumper sticker I regularly see notes: “All gave some and some gave all.”
I hope Americans do not trivialize the holiday as just another three-day weekend. We always need to be mindful of the ultimate sacrifice made by so many so that we may enjoy the life and freedoms we have in our country.
I don’t know about you but…
I think it is time to wrap this edition up. I leave you this time with my thought for the month: “When given a chance to sit it out or dance, you should dance.” I hope everyone gets a chance to dance and maybe even take a nap.
Did I tell you that May is also a wonderful month to take naps?
