Bany Items needed for reservation One Nation Walking Together.
In the past, the folks in the Fountain Valley have been so generous to our cause of providing humanitarian programs to Native Americans living on the reservations. Donation of diapers, baby formula and jar food, baby wipes, and hygiene products for women are needed.

George Archuleta will accept the donations at his shop, Classic Touch Auto Body, 317 S. Santa Fe, Fountain. In the past, folks generously donated books and the response was overwhelming, so books are not needed at this time.

Wizard of Oz- the comedic version- to be presented this weekend
by Traci Craig

We’ve all heard the classic story of the Wizard of Oz, what is coming up this Friday and Saturday, performed by the Widefield Community Theatre, is the comedic version.

This is their first performance and they hope to keep it going, Jackie Conklin, Director of the play said. “Many of the actors in this play started as a small group that met the senior center,” Betty Heinsman, Producer of the play, explained. “We went to the Community Center and explained how we wanted to start this group. Most were members of the Spotlight Players, all are people from the community (including students), who just wanted to do this,” she said.

The group chose the Wizard of Oz for their first performance because it is so well known and made it a comedy and not a musical “Good people put in a lot of time and effort to make it a good show, she said,” Conklin said. “This is all done on a volunteer basis and for the love of the theatre, except for the students, who are offered extra credit towards a theatre letter and it can also count as an extra-curricular.”
“We do it because we love to do it,” she added. “All of our Spotlight Players are just so thrilled to be on an actual stage and in a theatre.”

The are already looking toward the future and working on a fall schedule, however, this is their first production and after this one they are going kind of take a breath, Heinsman said.
Heinsman would “like to make it a real community thing- we go from age 16 to senior citizens” and hopes everyone will come out.

If anyone is interested in joining the Widefield Community Theatre, contact the Community Center at 391-3515.

When Somebody’s Knocking at the Door...

BE SURE YOU KNOW WHO IT IS BEFORE ALLOWING STRANGERS/VISITORS INTO YOUR HOME

Local consumers contacting the Better Business Bureau regarding suspicious persons going door to door are on the rise.

Just last week a Widefield resident contacted this newspaper to alert others to a suspicious situation  that took place.

The resident was surprised by a person claiming to be a representative from “ADT Security,” who came knocking on his door. He said the visitor was nicely dressed and was allowed access to the home. The so-called employee came in under the guise of checking the alarm batteries, and proceeded to press buttons and changed the alarm code to 1-2-3-4. He was not wearing a uniform and no proof that he worked for the security firm was provided.

 An observant neighbor reportedly saw two men- the one querying her neighbor and another man peering into windows.  There was no company vehicle visible, either.  After being questioned, the two men got into their vehicle and speed away.

The resident then contacted the real ADT Alarm company, and was told to change his alarm code to prevent unwanted access.

The Sheriff’s office was also alerted to this possible burglary scam.

The Better Business Bureau has also recently had reports of door to door solicitations for roofing repair/replacement, whihc have been cause for concern for local residents.  Home owners are being approached by representatives wanting to check their roofs for damage. These persons are also trying to ascertain if they are dealing with a home owner or tenant, if it is the latter, the personnel moves along. According to the BBB varying firms are trying to get property owners to sign a contract which allows the company to contact the insurance company and immediately begin processing the claim. Although there is a three-day right of recession, some of the contracts have special caveats charging 20% if the consumer tries to cancel after the repairs have been approved by the insurance carrier and if the insurance payment has been issued.

In regards to door to door solicitations, the BBB reminds consumers that:
· You do not have to let any person in your house.  If you’re not interested, say good-bye and shut the door. 
·  Don't be afraid to interrupt and ask questions. 
· Solicitors should be able to provide credentials of who they are and the firm they represent. They should be wearing some sort of name badge or uniform. 
· Do not be pressured into signing a contract or making a spur of the moment decision. Read all contracts before signing. A legitimate firm will allow you time to investigate their offer. 
· If it sounds like a good deal, ask the salesperson for their name, and the name, address and telephone number of the company.
· Contact the BBB for a reliability report on any company at www.bbb.org or 866-206-1800/719-636-1155
Start With Trust 

Books Automotive lends big support to school supply drive

The Walt Fortman Center recently received some big assistance from Book’s Automotive in Fountain during its collection of school supplies and money to purchase school supplies. Like he has done during the holidays (when he collects toys for children), Ron Book arranged to have a school bus at his local business to collection donations for the school supply drive. He also presented special offers to patrons who made donations to the effort.

He is pictured above with Leslie Koehn, who is in charge of marketing and events for Colorado Mountain Bank of Fountain (left) and Jolene Chapman, program assistant from the Pikes Peak Community Action Agency-Walt Fortman Center (right.) photo courtesy of the Walt Forman Center
submitted photo

55th Commemoration of the cease fire of Korean War is Saturday

Dr. Daniel Oh, PhD., of the National Unification Advisory Council of Korea, Denver Chapter, will be the guest speaker at the Colorado Springs area’s 55th Commemoration ceremony of the cease fire of the Korean War.
The ceremony will be at 10:30 a.m. Sat., July 26 in front of the Korean War Monument at Memorial Park, 300 block of S. Union Blvd. in Colo. Spgs., and is sponsored by the Dutch Nelsen Chapter of the Korean War Veterans Association.

 Dr. Oh was chairman of Governor Bill Owens’ Asian Pacific American Advisory Council for eight years. He was recently appointed by South Korean President Lee Myong Bak to the Advisory Council on Democratic and Peaceful Unification of Korean and has represented many causes in Colorado for the past 33 years. 
There will be a wreath laying in honor of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Korean War and those who are still missing in action. American veterans of recent wars, their families and widows will be recognized at the ceremony as well as many dignitaries from the Korean/American community. All are encouraged to attend. Seating will be provided, Paul Darrow, President of the Dutch Nelsen Chapter, said.
The Korean War begin June 25, 1950. The cease fire was declared July 27, 1953. This was the first war fought under the flag of the United Nations, with 20 countries participating. America lost 33,629 killed in action; 11,297 wounded and over 10,000 still listed as Missing in Action.

“We pray for the return of every American still missing in action from every war, they will not be forgotten,” Darrow said.

Even the heat couldn’t keep Marguerite Groves from celebrating her 98th birthday!
by Jennie Keller
 
As intense as the heat was on Sunday afternoon, Marguerite Groves of Security looked cool as a cucumber at her 98th birthday party. The 47-year resident was surrounded by family and friends at a local restaurant luncheon in her honor. Even one of her seven great-grandchildren was on hand for the celebration.
Groves, an Army wife who moved to Security in 1962 with her husband and daughter, gathered around the table with friends who know her from all aspects of her life.
 
Born in 1910 in Urbana, Ohio, Marguerite is amazed at how things have changed over the years, and not always for the better. “The world is moving too fast,” she states with conviction. Her secret to her long life – just simple hard work. Her friends were happy to point out that Marguerite still drives and in fact, drives well.
 
Groves recollected with fondness her time working with the Fountain Valley Senior Center. She is a founding member of the center, proud of her work in helping to head the arts and crafts department there for many years. Some of her friends in attendance for her birthday party learned how to make porcelain dolls from Marguerite’s gentle hands. And more than one of them was anxious to talk about the doll clothes that Marguerite knitted with love.
 
She is also a founding member of Women of the Moose chapter #698 in Urbana, Ohio formed in 1944. She believes that she may be the only living charter member.
 
Marguerite worked as a clerk-typist for the government. Her hobbies include knitting, macramé and making porcelain dolls – although she admits she does not get to do that as much as she would like to. Her second husband, Harry Groves, passed away in 1976. Her son, Henry Jr., was killed in Korea in 1961 and a daughter, Sherrill, died in 1999.

Celebrating her 98th birthday from afar was extended family including two grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren.
 
We wish Marguerite many happy returns and look forward to celebrating number 100 with her!