Becky Fitzgerald

Blog

  • Mystery Trip: Residents & Passport members travel to a series of unknown locations for the Summer of 2017 trip

    By Becky Fitzgerald on July 20, 2017

    Tuesday, Wednesday, happy days. Thursday, Friday, happy days. Home to fictional TV characters Richie Cunningham and Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli, Milwaukee, Wis., promises to offer Happy Days to 36 Meadowlark Travelers. The mystery trippers arrived in Wisconsin's largest city on Tuesday after a night in Davenport Iowa.

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  • Wall of Watercolor, Donated paintings on display at Verna Belle's Cafe

    By Becky Fitzgerald on June 22, 2017

    School’s out for summer, but that doesn’t mean the art display at Verna Belle’s Café will be absent. Several donated paintings are now on exhibit on the café’s south wall, where pieces created by Manhattan and Ogden art students usually rest. Three of the pieces were painted by former resident Lucy Mulroney, one was done by F. Gene Ernst, a former Passport member, and a fifth is a print by the late Charles H. Sanderson, a Kansas native. The Meadowlark Hills Art Committee plans to find homes for these pieces in our common areas.

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  • Let there be light!

    By Becky Fitzgerald on June 8, 2017

    Arriving home to Meadowlark Hills one night after flying into Manhattan’s airport, Anna Walsh, apt. 408, noticed something amiss as she looked toward the visitors’ entrance. Our American flag, which flies daily from a pole near the circle drive, was hanging in darkness.   Seeing this, she remembered a poorly lit flag that had spurred her husband to action several years ago. A member of the Kiwanis club in Council Grove, he led an effort to bring a poorly lit flag into the light.  

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  • Grow Green Match Day 2017

    By Becky Fitzgerald on May 25, 2017

    During a 24-hour period in late April, 866 donors gave more than $400,000 to 51 local non-profit endowment funds. Local business leader and former Meadowlark Hills board member Phil Howe provided matching dollars totaling nearly $190,000, bringing the total raised during the 5th annual Grow Green Match Day to $612,142.78!

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  • Legacy Society Banquet

    By Becky Fitzgerald on May 18, 2017

    Five residents honored at 15th annual event In 2004, Sugarland, Texas, resident Don Rasmussen was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. His doctor at the time wasn’t optimistic. “I hope you have a bucket list,” Don remembers the physician saying. “You won’t be doing anything in five years.” A half decade later in 2009, Don and his wife, Bea, had been Meadowlark residents for nearly two years, and Don appeared to be nowhere near kicking that metaphorical bucket.

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  • Nature Area Now Home to Mr. Moose

    By Becky Fitzgerald on February 9, 2017

    Bayer Pond Nature Area attracts a variety of wild life, and in early February, a moose was spotted! In the United States, moose prefer states such as Wyoming, Utah and Alaska, but our moose has relocated from the Lake Perry area. Next time you visit our pond, watch for him! He stands west of the West Gazebo by the trail leading into the woods. 

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  • HOG Wild Party

    By Becky Fitzgerald on October 26, 2016

    The third time was definitely a charm. By all measures, the 3rd annual HOGTOBERFEST, a FOOD, FRIENDS and FUNdraising event to benefit the Good Samaritan Fund, was a success. Some gift-in-kind and expense amounts are still outstanding, but this year’s revenue was nearly $18,400, a significant increase over the nearly $6000 in revenue realized from the 2015 event.

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  • Oink! HOGtoberfest surpasses expectations!

    By Becky Fitzgerald on October 19, 2016

    Harriet HOG, cuddled in resident Sue Hunt’s arms, prompted several patrons to praise her suitability for the 3rd annual HOG & Kisses Contest on Oct. 13 during HOGTOBERFEST at Cox Bros. BBQ. After about six weeks of campaigning, Rev. Cam McConnell earned the privilege of smooching Harriet by raising $3954 in donations, a higher total than any previous kisser. Meadowlark Hills Foundation awaits a few more event numbers, so please check a future Messenger for a full report. Proceeds benefit the Good Samaritan Fund.

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  • Update on Shopping Cart Project

    By Becky Fitzgerald on September 21, 2016

    Several weeks ago, the possibility of purchasing more grocery-style carts was presented to us. We currently have five of these carts and an anticipated need for five more. The projected total cost is $1,250. These grocery-style carts allow the user to keep shopping bags at table height, thus making it easy to roll the cart to the kitchen counter and unload shopping bags or other items without needing to bend over to lift the bags. Some residents also use these carts to tote supplies from one place to another within the apartment building.

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  • SOLD! Auction revenue tops 2015 effort

    By Becky Fitzgerald on September 15, 2016

    Eighty-six. 486. $414. $8,671. Put these numbers together, and they add up to another successful Meadowlark Hills benefit auction. On Saturday, Sept. 10, auctioneer Vern Gannon and his staff sold 486 items/groups of items for $8,671 in merchandise. Add the $414 of revenue generated at the Auction Café, and the event total is slightly more than $9000! The event was held in the Utopia Room at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, a larger space than our 2015 location (Pottorf Hall).

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