As a congregation, we celebrate each other’s joys and do our best to lighten the load of each other’s sorrows.
Nancy Hagman was among members of a core group of some dozen political agitators, mainly women, who in the past two years gathered frequently, attended County Commission meetings regularly, circulated petitions and urged participation – efforts then rewarded by a win in September with Escambia County Commission’s approval of a preservation ordinance ruling that building units at Pensacola Beach must continue to be available only for lease, not for sale. The group, Save Pensacola Beach, was organized by community activist Dianne Krumel in 2017, in response to a bill proposed by Congressman Matt Gaetz which would turn leases over to fee-simple purchase. Pensacola Beach was deeded to Escambia County by the federal government after World War II with the rule that its land could only be leased, not owned.
Mae O’Shea suffered a stroke on October’s fourth Thursday, unfortunately racking up a second recent serious health mishap. A few weeks previous, she fell in her garage as she emerged from her car, breaking two ribs. Both painful incidents involved trips to West Florida Hospital; she stayed for three days following the stroke. Mae is at home now, but not able yet to predict when she will once again be out and about.
Be assured, however, that Mae will cope if anyone can. Consider her reaction as she lay on the garage floor in the first recent accident, unable to rouse her son, Tim, a musician, who was sound asleep following a performance the night before: “I had my purse in my hand and my phone was in there. So I called 911 and the ambulance came.” She was soon back in church on a recent Sunday – (and with a classy new hairdo).
As for the stroke, Mae managed to prevail in one regard, a dietetic preference. “The hospital takes away salt from all stroke patients, and I love salt – and my body needs it.” What to do? “I had Tim bring me a salt shaker.”
Cards and calls would be welcome, says Mae.
Bill Caplinger had trigger finger surgery on Friday, Oct. 18th, at Andrews Institute at 12th and Airport. The surgery, on his right hand palm, is related to tendons controlling joints on the middle finger.
Bill also has had treatment for problems in his left hand (his writing hand) – “a very painful episode causing inability to even hold a pen, much less sign my name for about nine days,” he reports. Although that treatment was pretty successful, he’s still wearing a brace.
No cards or attention needed, says Bill, who’s just wanting to let folks know he’s on the mend, even if he shows up with braces or sling – “not to worry.”
Tori Vinson, 15, who joined UUCP with her parents in the New Member ceremony Oct. 20th, is co-director and cast member of “The Trail to Oregon,” an interactive musical being presented Nov. 2nd and 3rd at N.B. Cook auditorium. Of six main characters, Tori is the daughter, performing dialogue and songs. Admission: $10. Tori is enrolled in the IB program at Pensacola High School. She won an award for poetry in the 2017 student contest of West Florida Literary Federation.
Bob and Lesley Ortiz are back from their annual hot-Florida summer getaway, headquartered at a family abode in north Waterboro, Me., — and here just in time for his 80th birthday celebration on Oct. 18. This year’s May-through-September stay in north country was also travel-highlighted. They took a second Viking River cruise in July, a 12-day trip from Paris to Zurich, and in September they joined a one-week Roads Scholar national park tour encompassing Zion State Park, Bryce Canyon and the north rim of the Grand Canyon. Welcome home!
– Charlotte Crane
Please send news of family events, accomplishments and concerns to UUCP’s newsletter, The Light, for publication in the newly launched Member News feature. Send to Charlotte Crane, charlotte@charcrane.net, or to Terra Shute at the UUCP office, uucp@bellsouth.net.
ATTENTION: NEW (or Returning) MEMBERS!
We’re so glad you’ve become a Member of Our Beloved Community. If you haven’t had a Get-to-Know-You Biography published yet and would like to, please contact Charlotte Crane or the Church Office. We’d love to feature you!