Ramona youngsters celebrate red ribbon week
By JESSICA GILBERT
Ramona correspondent
(785) 965-2621
"Do you have a fun hat that Bryanna could wear to school?" queried Sandra Svoboda when she phoned. "The kids are supposed to wear an interesting hat to school as part of "Red Ribbon Week."
"Let's go over to the house we call Green Acres," I said to Sandra. "We've got our hat collection stored there. I'm sure Bryanna will find something to suit her."
It was getting dark by now and our Green Acres house doesn't have electricity. So Sandra brought her flashlight to show the way as we climbed the stairs to the second story bedroom that houses all our hat and costume collections. In the dim light we opened several boxes and plopped hats on Bryanna's pretty head.
Finally the selection was made — a delicate blue hat, rimmed with flowers, dating from the '40s.
When Cole and Bryanna posed for their picture, I learned all about Red Ribbon Week at Centre Elementary School. It all began in 1985 when a drug enforcement undercover agent, Enrique Camarena Salazar, was killed by drug traffickers in Mexico. The folks in Enrique's hometown of Calexico, Calif., began wearing red ribbons in his honor and the trend spread until 1988 when Congress proclaimed the last full week in October as Red Ribbon Week.
"On Monday we decorated the school hall with lots of bats because the theme was 'Drugs Make You Batty'," explained Cole Svoboda, who is in 4th grade. Then on Tuesday it was "Put a Cap on Drugs," which is why Bryanna and Cole went searching for interesting hats to wear to school.
Each day features another fascinating activity — Wednesday it's "Tie One on Against Drugs," and the kids wear an ugly tie to school. I'll bet there'll be lots of dads volunteering that unforgettable theme tie they got for their last birthday!
Hunting season is just around the corner and the Ramona Senior Center, along with the Ramona Volunteer Fire Department, is making plans for providing breakfast and lunch for hunters on Saturday Nov. 9. Breakfast of pancakes, sausage, coffee, and juice will be served from 5 to 9 a.m., lunch will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and features chili, chicken noodle soup, bierrocks, and dessert. Both meals will be served at the Ramona Senior Center — that's the red and white building on the east corner of 3rd and D.
If you have questions, contact Mayor Connie Smith, 785-965-2653, or Kim Antoszyk, president of the Ramona Senior Center, 785-965-2643.
While I had Kim Antoszyk on the phone to discuss meals for hunters, I caught up on family news. With a family as large as the Antoszyks, there's bound to be news. Kim's been preoccupied with recovering from a recent surgery, but that didn't stop her from spending many hours at Salina Regional Hospital while her father Matt Ditto of Hope recovered from surgery that removed a lung. Matt returned home Saturday. "It was a miracle of science that he recovered so well from this surgery," commented Kim.
Thieen and Steve Antoszyk, along with another Ramona lad Matt Leach were members of the undefeated Centre Junior High football team. The season closed this last Thursday and the team was celebrating their accomplishment as league champions.
Kim and John Antoszyk's oldest daughter Breah, who's 16 and a junior at Centre returned on Sunday from Warrior Weekend in Topeka. "It's like bootcamp," explained Breah. She went on to tell me that a recruiter for the Army National Guard invited students to the camp with hope that eventually some of these kids will join the armed forces.
"I was the only girl out of two counties," said Breah. "There were only 20 girls who attended the camp, compared to 190 guys."
Breah explained that camp activities included climbing walls, paintball wars, and squad competitions. "My squad was picked for best attitude, promptness, and overall doing the best," said Breah with pride.
"So would you ever join the military, now that you've tasted bootcamp?" I asked.
"I would," she quickly replied. "I'd like to be a medic."
The Ramona Senior Center will continue having an evening meal on the third Wednesday of each month. Nearly 20 Ramona residents gathered Oct. 16 to enjoy a potluck supper together. There were even out-of-town guests — Reign and Marlene Anduss of Peabody, who became a permanent part of the Ramona extended family when they operated the grocery/restaurant in Ramona for several months, came to see friends, enjoy a meal, and catch up on news.
Naomi Fike has served on the Marion County Senior Citizens Board for many years. But with her recent surgeries, she hasn't been able to attend many meetings. "That's why it was so nice to get a visit from Noreen Weems," said Naomi, who went on to explain that Noreen is the director of Senior Citizens of Marion County. Noreen not only stopped for a Saturday visit, she brought along a lovely plant.
Naomi had on-going company this weekend beginning with Joe and Janet Fike arriving Friday evening and daughter Virginia bringing fried chicken for lunch on Sunday.
Frances Buxman had a birthday on the 19th. Months ago, when the Ramona Tea party was scheduled for Oct. 19, Frances and her daughters planned to celebrate her birthday at the tea party. But then, the event got canceled because my sister and I were moving our parents to Ramona, so Frances's chance to hear 50+ ladies sing "Happy Birthday" slipped by.
Nevertheless, her son Tim saved the day and walked in the door with a dozen roses. Then he put up the Halloween lights and hoisted a very impressive witch, which is flying in the porch breeze. "I wanted one of those witches that looks like they've hit the side of the house — but I couldn't find one. So a flying witch was the next best thing," said Frances.
Hank and Gertie Schubert had a busy weekend with non-stop company. It began on Saturday when Hank's sister Frieda Struebing of Wichita arrived with cousin Phyllis Strickler Childs, who flew in from Richmond, Va., for a week's visit.
Adding to the celebration was Martha Ehrhardt, Hank and Frieda's sister, who recently moved to Ramona. Martha hadn't seen her siblings in over 15 years, so there was lots of stories and experiences to share.
On Sunday, the family gathered at Cousin's Corner for Sunday dinner, where another sibling Anna Schubert Schimming of Herington joined the gathering. Pat and I prepared our best roasted chicken and all the fixin's, with a finale of applecake topped with caramel sauce and whipped cream.
But no time for a Sunday afternoon nap! By 3 p.m., the family was seated at the Herington Hilltop Community Center anticipating a concert by Turpin Tyme Ragsters, a group of professional musicians from the Kansas City area who've been playing ragtime music since 1993.
What made the concert exciting for the Schubert family is that one of the band members was a family member! Gregg Briggs, clarinetist, had nearly a whole row of "cheerleaders" applauding, hooting, and hollering after every song.
"They're wonderful, professional musicians and it was one of the best programs I've seen in a long time," said Gertie Schubert. "Of course what made it especially interesting was to have my nephew Gregg playing in the band."
Gregg and his wife Becky both are professional musicians from Independence, Mo. Becky wasn't on stage at Sunday's performance — instead she was in the audience with her mother Anne Schubert of Hutchinson.
Becky and Gregg's connections to Ramona come via Becky's father Art Schubert, who was born and raised in Ramona. Art was Hank Schubert's youngest brother.
"Oh, that music just did me a world of good," said another of Gregg's aunts, Anna Schimming.
"We should see if the band would come to Ramona and perform," whispered Gertie between the Maple Leaf Rag and the St. Louis Rag. Gertie and I could just see it now, for the music just transports one to a simpler time of ice cream socials and concerts in the park.
At intermission, I spoke with Gary Richmond, the man who formed the band in 1993. "What's your calendar look like for 2003?" I asked. "Would you come to Ramona?"
By the time I found my seat after intermission, we'd traded business cards and my mind was spinning on how we'd finance bringing seven musicians to our small hamlet. "I've got a bed & breakfast where you can stay," I said with a grin. "Now
It's been a long-time dream to bring music to Ramona on a summer evening. The dream began when my dad told stories of the old bandstand that used to exist just north of Strickler's store. Although the bandstand is long gone, the dream has never died.
The Ramona dog population increased by one recently — and a rather "classy" addition he is. Lowell and Marge Hanschu have added a pedigreed pooch to Ramona's dog population — a Jack Russell Terrier named Bandit, for the patch over his eye.
This foxy little terrier got its name from a minister named John Russell, who just happened to be an avid hunter. Pastor Russell had hounds and horses and loved the hunt, but found that when the dogs chased the fox into the hole, no dog was small enough to continue the pursuit.
So the good pastor solved the problem by developing a breed of terrier that was small enough to get into the fox holes and the terrier was named after him.
The Hanschus went to some lengths to get this special dog to Ramona. "Our son in South Carolina found a Jack Russell for his family and he told us there was one left in the litter," explained Marge. "He asked if we wanted it and we said 'yes.' " Now, how to get Bandit from South Carolina to Ramona.
"We have a granddaughter who works for USAir," said Marge. "She flew from Kansas City to Charlotte, N.C., and picked up Bandit." Bandit even got to fly first class!
"Guidebooks say you shouldn't select a Jack Russell if you want a lap dog," said Marge, "because they're an active dog. But Bandit gets lots of attention, likes to be held and the other day I found him curled up on Lowell taking a nap."
Al and Darlene Sondergard were in Wichita this last week, honoring the passing of Al's older brother Walter, who died Oct. 16. Walter, 82, had been seriously ill for the last two years with a disease that causes deterioration of the muscles, eventually attacking the heart and lungs.
Walter's wife Joan took care of her husband at home until he died. "We were so proud of her," said Darlene Sondergard of her sister-in-law. "Walter's illness was a hard thing to watch, and yet Joan stood by him and cared for him until the end."
In this cool fall weather, it's hard to remember the heat of August — so hot you don't want to do much except maybe stop for an idle neighborly chat with a glass of iced tea in hand. But that's what inspired one of the first scarecrows to arrive on the Ramona landscape.
"Last summer, Paul Jones stopped for a glass of iced tea with Judy and Jessie," said Bobby Thornhill. Paul noted the little tree out in front of the Thornhill-Bickford home and commented that although the tree was dead, it would make an unusual Charlie Brown Christmas tree.
"Good idea," they all thought. Then Bobby thought further, "Why wait 'til Christmas, let's decorate it for Halloween."
Judy embellished the idea by adding a wishing well with someone about to dive in. It's quite eye-catching! Next time you're in Ramona, drive down 3rd Street and check out the north side of the street.
And that's the news from Ramona where scarecrows and witches are beginning to appear and a traffic jam is two parked cars and a dog in the road.
