TLC - The Lexington Connection

Okay, here I am, at last. Thank you for your inquiries, the ones with concern and the ones with the sharp edges as well. I am fine, Lexington is fine, and I've just been too busy going to movies to write!

No, that's only partly true. But we in Big Lex are certainly up on the latest films. The theater is doing very well, and even better since The Brewery restaurant opened right next door. It's in that wonderful old brick building where legend has it there was a big raid during Prohibition. (Okay you Old Timers, send the details.)

At last writing I believe I mentioned one of our restaurants had closed. In its place, in the old Eagle Theater building, is now a Mexican restaurant. I do not know the name of it, although I ate there Friday when it opened. They have been too busy to put up a sign, and too busy to advertise. Amazing the way the word gets around. If they wait much longer, they may as well call it "The Mexican Restaurant" because that's all I've heard it referred to.

In March the second Hookers' Convention was held here. Rug hookers, that is. Right after that was the St. Patrick's Day parade and festivities. Then there was the House of Hope gala, and the Merchants' Spring Open House.

Next up, a Victorian Tea to be held at the Anderson House on May 3. A reenactors event, The Federal Occupation of Lexington, will take place May 17 and 18. Of course the public is welcome.

Heritage Days, similar to the old Fall Festival, will be held downtown June 13 and 14, followed by the Old Homes Tour June 21 and 22. This is a different time of the year for a Homes Tour, so keep an eye on the website if you need more details. It's www.historiclexington.com - be sure to check it out. I got several rave reviews about the site when I published the address before. (I hasten to explain I have nothing to do with the website - it is the product of Gary Shulkind, a new resident of Lexington.) Of course you can always direct questions to me. With any luck they'll get answered.

An article written by Harry Dunford, entitled The Lone Sailor, appeared in the Kansas City Star a while back. It was on the editorial page in the "As I See It" column. Hope those of you who get the Star saw it.

I also hope those of you who were interested got your updates of "Growing Up in Lexington." They are sold out now. Thanks again to Marilou Edwards for her good work.

Lexington lost two of its longtime residents recently. Ed Lee, who was manager of the water department for many years, and later served as mayor of Lexington, died in March.

Glen Whitney is still very much alive, but he has moved to Blair, Nebraska, to be near his family. I know many of you remember him from school, and you can send him an email at gwhitney@huntel.net or you can send him a note at Johansen Manor, 805 N. 22nd St. Apt 1-G, Blair, NE 68008. His 90th birthday is June 19.

If there are other teachers you would like to know about, please let me know and I'll try to find out. And while we're on the subject of school, a new chapter has raised its head.

Susan, we tuned in to "Arsenic and Old Lace" tonight on PBS. (I'm sure you know the Frank Capra film, starring Cary Grant, l940's probably.) I know there was some LHS production of it, maybe when I was in high school; it seemed SO familiar. I even called Loretta to see if she played one of the "Brewster sisters." Thought it might be interesting to start some TLC memories of plays, who starred in, mishaps with Mrs. Seiter, etc. I vividly remember "Love is Too Much Trouble" with Jackie Evans and "moi" in 1958. (It was AWFUL!!!) "Our Town" was probably a yearly favorite. The "Emily" I remember was Gay Lierman. (Did you know Paul Newman is playing the Stage Manager in "Our Town" on Broadway? Wouldn't that be something to see!) Anyway, just an idea.

That hit the hot button with me, and I'm sure many of you have memories of high school plays. "Our Town" had a terrific impact on me. Our Emily was Janis Rae Beretta (now Beyer), and Bill Tempel was the Stage Manager. I played the younger sister of George, who married Emily.

In another less memorable production called (and I am not making this up) "Come Out of the Closet," we had a living room set. Since our stage did not have flats, but curtains, the "walls" were decorated with pictures taped to the curtains. All went well until the humidity rose, perhaps with a full and un-air conditioned auditorium. During the performance the pictures began to fall from the "walls," one by one. Somehow we kept going, and the rest is mercifully blocked from my memory.