From The Editor
Home, Hearth and Elections
I know November is still a month away, but before you know it will be time to vote. This month, Laura Wright provides some important election information about the many local issues we face — including the creation of a Senior Center in Alachua County — and perhaps even save you time in the election booth.
October is Family History Month and so I visited the Alachua County Genealogical Society. The group has been active for years and is always looking for like-minded people to join and share their stories.
Genealogy is among the most popular hobbies in the United States, and with the advent of the Internet, researching your family tree and connecting with long-lost relatives has become — in some cases — as easy as clicking a mouse.
Several years ago, I received an e-mail from a woman up north asking if I was related to Albert L. Isaac, Sr. of Coconut Grove. He is my grandfather. And it turns out this woman is my relative. She invited me to join a Web site where I discovered old photos of my grandparents and my father. A member had found these pictures in a box and posted them on the site. For years they had wondered who these folks were. Much to their surprise, I was able to identify the mysterious family.
Not long afterward, my aunt and uncle actually traveled to a family reunion with these newly discovered relatives. You never know what you may find when unearthing your family roots.
This month, Senior Times continues with our series of veteran profiles. Marina Blomberg recently met with Earl C. “Chuck” Carlson, and shares with us part of his fascinating life story.
In keeping with the general theme of home and hearth, Laura Kubitz writes about the Gainesville Neighborhood Group of the American Sewing Guild. Laura was on-hand at a recent event held in Gainesville. For this group, sewing is more than just a hobby.
Crystal Henry may have moved to Indiana, but she still finds time in her busy schedule to write a story or two. This month she provides us with a brief history on Columbus Day.
As we age, many of us will become caregivers to family members. Laura Wright tells us about Al’z Place, an organization that provides daytime care for patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
I don’t have to tell you how important it is to vote. For many young people, it is nearly inconceivable that not long ago women and blacks were not even allowed to vote. Perhaps this is testimony to how much we have grown as a Nation.
There are huge challenges facing us, and it is sometimes difficult for me to be optimistic. But then I remember we are Americans, living in the greatest country in the world. We weathered the Great Depression and two World Wars. With our can-do Horatio Alger attitudes, I believe we can turn this thing around. And we will.
