Meal and Movie (M&M)
Friday, Jan. 5 – “Dean’s Dream” in the Methodist Church Fellowship Hall
A movie about Dean Trump’s dream to own a hardware store, and the story behind the people and this unique local Solon store. It was filmed by Barry Sharp, who was able to capture this extraordinary business with interviews revealing just how big this business is to a small town.
Things the Advocates did in 2023
Trips
April 25, Great River Road – Clinton to McGregor
May 18, Kalona – Mennonite meal and area places of interest
July 26, Circa 21 – Escape to Margaritaville
August 16 – Celebration Belle – Bare Foot Becky
October 19 – Breitbach’s Restaurant/Gays Mill
Restaurant Runs
Jan. 19, Blue Bird — Solon
Feb. 9, Big Grove — Solon
April 13, Odies -Ely
April 24, Bluff Lake – Maquoketa
May 25, Midtown – Iowa City
June 6, Copper Boar – North Liberty
July 3, Sallies – Springville
August 8, Shuey’s – Shueyville
Sept. 9, That Place – Oxford
Nov. 16, Wild Hogs – Walford
Notes from a Sleeplessness Talk
Dr. Elizabeth Hickman, Solon Family Physician, gave a presentation on sleeplessness Monday, Nov. 27 at the Solon Public Library.
Sleeplessness (Insomnia) can be short term or long term defined by problems falling asleep or staying asleep. It can negatively affect your day, social activities, memory, and quality of life.
Independent or secondary issues can be caused by pain, an old mattress, and even pillows. Other sleep disturbances can be a form of depression, anxiety, or everyday issues. Learn to process worries before going to bed. Sleep apnea is an under-diagnosed issue. Ensure adequate exposure to natural light, especially in the morning.
(The) First line of treatment is behavioral therapy – short or indefinitely – medication therapy short term.
Sleep hygiene is a tool, if you feel rested at 5:00 a.m. get up, lying in bed may not help sleep issues. It helps to maintain a regular sleep schedule. Better to nap in the morning than at 2:00 or 4:00 in the afternoon. If you sleep fine, then napping might not be an issue. Avoid caffeine late at night as caffeine has eight hours of endurance after ingestion. Alcohol may help falling to sleep but affects sleep later in the night. Smoking and food late at night may cause issues but don’t go to bed hungry! A light snack might help.
Worries often interfere with sleep, keeping a notebook bedside when that certain chore is fretting you, write it down in the notebook and then take care of it in the morning. Exercise is good but not four hours before bedtime. Cut off screen time, TV or phone, one hour before retiring. Try progressive relaxation techniques or meditation via a phone app.
Sleep should come 20-30 minutes after retiring. If not, get up and do some quiet activity, listen to radio, read something not challenging like recipes, don’t watch TV or get on your phone. If you wake at 2:00 a.m. and can’t fall asleep after 20-30 minutes, get up and try the quiet routine. Turn the alarm clock away.
Barefoot Becky and the 80+ Solonites
A birthday party for Solonites 80 years old and older was celebrated Sunday, October 29 at the Solon American Legion. Barefoot Becky’s three-piece band, consisting of Becky on accordion, husband Terry Ard on guitar, and Lee Plummer (Muscatine School Band Director) on drums. The band often plays several times a week in various eastern Iowa locales. Some further afield gigs consist of up to five musicians playing Czech and German selections. The band has played in Germany and Austria and was invited to a special venue in Washington, DC at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the 150th birthday of the United States.
Becky Livermore, more widely known as Barefoot Becky, has been playing the accordion for 35 years. She started lessons at age ten in Mt. Vernon schools. She played with Eddy Ulch’s “Jolly Bohemians,” but later started a band of her own. She purchased Eddy’s vast library of handwritten polkas and waltzes. Searching for a name she subsequently formed “Barefoot Becky and the Ivanhoe Deutschman.” Having grown up on a farm on Ivanhoe Road, Mt. Vernon, together with her German heritage helped coin the “Deutschman” moniker. The “Barefoot” part seemed natural as she says, “I’m a farm girl at heart!”
Senior Advocates Board
Art Tellin 319-626-2816
John Lamantia 319-621-6887
Jill Weetman 319-330-8961
Sandy Hanson 319-430-8655
Barry Byrne 319-354-8757
Larry Meister 319-624-2516
Don Burch 319-624-4054
Cindy Jensen 319-360-3279
Larry Brecht 319-624-2925
Ivan Hasselbusch 319-670-9105
Phyllis Fiala 319-331-7447