United Methodist Women host annual Lenten breakfast

March 19, 2008

The United Methodist Women held their annual Lenten breakfast recently at the Shores at Wesley Manor. I passed Phyllis Hover coming out of the dining room after breakfast as I headed down the hall to the great room where I found Linda Conover, Andrea Mastro, Robie McKinnon and Bonnie Bonner setting tables with yellow tablecloths and Easter napkins for breakfast while Christine Crist made coffee. Linda was excited when she reported she had 29 helpers to serve over 85 guests lunch in Stainton Hall at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church in the initial program entitled “God’s Kitchen.” These luncheons will be held on the last Wednesday of each month. Linda is delighted to have Commerce Bank as a sponsor of this new St. Peter’s outreach program. I caught up with Phil Young, Andy Martin and Bill Bateson in the kitchen overloading circuits with too many hot griddles as they prepared to make breakfast for the ladies. Charlotte Moyer, who was in charge of the breakfast, quickly ran around opening windows when it got smoky. I told Phil I was anxiously awaiting him to reprise his role as Martha the he originally created last year along with Gary Albert as Mary. Russ Shivers, who was enjoying his first day of retirement as chaplain at Shores, stopped to look for wife, Connie, who isn’t sure how she’s going to like having her husband under foot all day. Alice Crockford, who walked over to Shores from her home for breakfast, told Connie she’s managed quite well for years since Bill retired. Helen Hay introduced me to Ruth Moore who is an active worker at Shores.
Olive “Puddy” Waddell has traded in her three-wheel bicycle for an electric scooter and has been zipping around the halls at Shores before venturing out on the Boardwalk. Donna Doyle recently returned from an 11-day cruise to the Caribbean with husband Frank on the Norwegian cruise line. Jennifer Bowman stopped by with 5-year old daughter, Katie, who looked cute in a denim jacket accented with spring flowers. Jennifer is busy making plans for a UMW Mother’s Day tea titled “Girls and God” to be held May 10 at 2 p.m. at Stainton Hall. Sandra Roberts enjoyed breakfast while catching up with Shores residents, Betty Hemberger and Trudy Daly, who were members of Absecon Methodist Church when Sandra’s husband, Brian, was the senior pastor. Ruth Auerswald sported a cute snowman sweatshirt and recited a poem she wrote about Shores that Marge Miller and Bea Sharp enjoyed. Always the secretary, Ruth told me I misspelled Harvey Van Sciver’s name in a recent column and I should drop the “h.” Viola Ryner told me she moved from Philadelphia to Ocean City in 1975. Flo Lemmerman is a busy lady as she runs the gift shop at Shores. Mildred Wilver looked sharp in a shocking pink polka dot sweater. I enjoyed breakfast chatting with Marion McCaughey and her mom, Blanche Smith. UMW president, Nancy Caine, reported the UMW annual spaghetti dinner will be April 17 at the Deauville. Nancy also presented special recognition awards to Donna Doyle for her many years of service as UMW president and to Betty Hawk for her years of service collecting stamps. Nancy’s daughter, Libby Caine, was the guest speaker and she gave a presentation of her mission trip to Cape Town, South Africa last year featuring slides of the women, children and youth she worked with. Libby also had time to tour this beautiful country and showed breathtaking slides of sunsets, the beaches, her climb down a steep cliff and elephants, rhinos and giraffes she encountered on a safari.
Heavy rain didn’t deter folks from attending the Ocean City Fine Arts League’s first show at the new location of their gallery, Art on Asbury, at 608 Asbury Ave. March’s featured artist, Joanne Bernardini, along with husband, Rick, and daughter, Jennifer, were at the door greeting guests when they arrived and made sure Marion and Ned McCaughey and this columnist entered to win one of Joanne’s photos. I enjoyed checking out Joanne’s 33 beautifully framed photos she took during her tour of Ireland last October when she took 2,348 photos that brought back fond memories of my visit to Ireland 10 years ago. Rick has been busy as manager for T.N. Ward, the contractor for Harrah’s new tower in Atlantic City. Jennifer, a language arts teacher at the Bellhaven School in Linwood, recently purchased her first home in Somers Point. Richard Sweeney sported green shamrocks on his white suspenders as he circulated around the gallery taking pictures. Bill Woods sported an orthopedic sandal on his left foot having just had minor surgery two days before. With Bill taking it easy Mary Woods was on the run keeping up with their cute 3-year-old granddaughter, Eva McKnight, with beautiful red hair. Linda Sweeney enjoys living in Ocean City in the home her great grandfather, Casper Mira, purchased in 1925 that was built in 1895. Though they made renovations over the years they have retained the original charm of this historic landmark. Niamh Crossman moved from Ireland to the US when she was 8 years old, but returns to her homeland twice a year. I didn’t recognize Barbara Stefano since the last time I took her picture she was dressed as Mrs. Claus. I enjoyed sampling the delicious hors d’oeuvres including Irish potatoes while chatting with Katharine and Beth Schumacher and Allana and Willie Mathis then Beth pointed out a couple of Bill Sines colorful fish paintings.
I chatted with Wanda Klein and told her how much I love her fabulous seashore paintings on display in the gallery. Martha Stanwood recently moved her Butterfly Boutique one block down the street to the old location of Art on Asbury in the 900 block. Ralph and Ginny Cooper stopped by after visiting the opening and I admired Ginny’s light blue sweater featuring a basket of spring flowers she embroidered on the front and back. When Denise and Bob Leitch moved in a few doors from the Bernardini’s, Joanne and Denise realized they graduated from West Catholic High in 1970. Janet McCoy said Bob Leitch is famous in their neighborhood for making a giant eight-foot flamingo as they belong to the Flamingo Association, a group of 50 neighbors who get together twice a year to party. Thanks to Rae Jaffe-Mullineaux, who displays her artwork in the gallery, for taking a break at the opening to give this columnist a ride home.
They say everything comes to he who waits and we have waited all winter for Voltaco’s to re-open. Joe and Vicki Taccarino are back from Florida and all rested up for another busy season at everyone’s favorite Italian take out at 10th and West. Tomorrow, Thursday, March 20, you can once again get a hoagie, lasagna and all their other delicious Italian favorites throughout the spring and summer.

Linda Conover, Andrea Mastro, Bonnie Bonner and Robie McKinnon pour syrup for the UMW Lenten breakfast.
 

Charlotte Moyer, Phil Young, Andy Martin, Christine Crist and Bill Bateson take a break

Marion McCaughey, Alice Crockford, Bea Sharp and Cathy Finnegan enjoy the UMW Lenten breakfast.

Russ Shivers stops by to visit with Sandra Roberts, Betty Hawk, Libby and Nancy Caine and wife, Connie Shivers, before the breakfast.

Marge Miller, Helen Hay, Olive (Puddy) Waddell, Donna Doyle and Blanche Smith get together at the breakfast.


Joanne Bernardini poses in front of her photographs of Ireland at the Ocean City Fine Art League’s opening with friends, Richard and Linda Sweeney, her husband, Rick, and daughter, Jennifer.

Bill and Mary Woods and their granddaughter, Eva McKnight, chat with Wanda Klein.
 

Niamh and Dan Crossman, Rae Jaffe and Joe and Barbara Stefano enjoy the open house.