Valentine's Day sets the mood for the approaching change of season

By Darla Buckhannon

Happy birthday to Ruth Ann Hailey, Mildred Finney, Joann Brucker, Jimmy Dooley, Cindy Teegarden, Jeff Graviett, Joe Swain, Charlie Hindman, Troy Collins, Tyler Collins, Denny Rose, Ken Lowery, Randy Dooley, Zach Horman, Sarah Hahn, Elizabeth Cummins, Annabelle Dumey, Misty Davis, Sidney Burkes, Shea Candace Dumey, Tyler Graham, John Gramlisch and Shea Smith. Also, Mary Cummins, Betty Darnell, Tilda Davison, Gary Sadler and Estella Sharp.

Happy anniversary to Tull and Virginia Garner, Laddie and Annette Bridwell and Red and June Lynn.

Happy Valentine's Day! Don't forget your sweetie this Tuesday. Not only is this a month for lovers, it is also the time of the year when courtship begins for birds and our furry friends such as great horned owls, screech owls, woodchucks, mink, skunks, muskrats and opossums. Coyotes breed through March, and those who live near the woods may hear them howling. Before you know it, we'll be getting our bluebird nest boxes ready for occupancy!

Photo finish

Aaron Horrell reports that the Painted Wren Gallery's first photo contest is in the books. Area photographers can look forward to four photo contests each year. The contests will have two separate divisions: Adult (18 years and older) and Youth (17 and younger).

Each of the four contests will have a distinct theme. This year's themes are as follows: "Anything Flowers," deadline March 31; "Fourth of July," deadline June 30; "Halloween," deadline October 24; and "Anything Winter," deadline January 31, 2018. More information is available on Facebook at Painted Wren Art Gallery or by visiting the gallery at 223 S. Plaza Way in Cape. Hours are 1 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. You may also call Aaron at (573) 579-1000. Cash prizes are awarded, and the Best of Show will receive a frame valued at $150 from Stev-Mark. Everyone is invited to enter!

Tax season is here, and seniors can get free tax help every Tuesday through April 11 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Senior Center.

A super Super Bowl

Regardless for which team you were cheering, we can all agree that last Sunday's Super Bowl was super! For Patriots fans, the overtime win was especially sweet. Meanwhile, the Houston police and Texas Rangers are on the hunt for Tom Brady's missing game jersey. Fans will have to turn our attention to other sports to ease football withdrawal. In Dallas, the discussion of what to do with Dallas Cowboy quarterback Tony Romo will return as a hot topic.

Documenting businesses

The mentioning of the old Saint Francis Hospital and Buckner-Ragsdale in Cape had several readers reminiscing about their visits as well. In past Chatters, I have talked about the early businesses in downtown Chaffee. At one time, the late Agnes Dobbs and I were about to take on a new project. Since she had wonderful recall and remembered many of the early businesses, we were going to draft up a plat showing all the businesses and the name changes through the years. Unfortunately, she passed away before we got around to it. I think it would be a great project for someone and a wonderful way to connect with our older residents who remember the various businesses. City Hall and the Public Library are also great resources. The finished project would make a terrific addition to the memorabilia at the Chaffee Historical Museum.

Reminders

The Chaffee Historical Society meets at 10 a.m. on the first Saturday of each month at the museum. We also remind residents that City Council meets at 7 p.m. the first and third Mondays at City Hall. City Hall will be closed in observance of Presidents' Day, Feb 20, but City Council still will meet that evening. We remind residents that City Hall needs your current phone number. They also ask that your house numbers be visible from the street.

The Book Fair Final Sale at Chaffee High School is 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Monday. Public schools will be closed on Presidents' Day. The Mogul Dance is February 24, and this year's theme is Masquerade Ball.

Remember to tell those special people in your life that you love them -- those three words mean so very much.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to those who have lost loved ones. Our thoughts and prayers are also with those who are in hospitals, nursing homes and homebound.

Email your news and comments to me at darbuck2@airmail.net or leave a message at (573) 887-6430 or (214) 207-7839.

Fragrance, not fumes

Then there was the City Park no-smoking sign -- smell flowers, not smoke.