Sugar Grove
By Paula Mitchell
Graduation is a sacred rite of passage. It’s the act of crossing the threshold after years of hard work and studious dedication into a new beginning of a new life stage.
Let’s take a look at some traditions that surround the graduation process.
The instantly recognizable tune, played during the processional march as graduates arrive to collect their degree, was composed and performed in 1902 to honor the coronation of King Edward VII of Great Britain. It made its debut to the United States graduation in 1905 when Yale University bestowed an honorary degree on the song’s composer, Edward Elgar. It quickly spread to other schools soon after.
The graduation gowns evolved from clerics’ long garments that were worn by medieval scholars as far back as the 12th century. An interesting theory maintains that they not only symbolized the scholars’ status, but also provided a way to keep warm in the drafty, unheated buildings. In the 19th century, American colleges and universities attempted to standardize the gowns, giving special attention to the sleeves. Pointed long sleeves were for bachelor’s degree recipients, long closed sleeves for master’s degrees and round open sleeves for doctor’s degrees. All gowns were to be black, period.
Caps originated as long hoods before evolving into skull caps and ultimately into square, flat mortarboards, sometime in the 1700s. Hoods remained a part of the costume, but hung down the wearer’s back rather than sitting atop their heads.
The 1895 code called for caps to be black as well. “Each cap shall be ornamented with a long tassel attached to the middle point at the top.” By all accounts, before tassels became standard equipment, mortarboards were often topped by pom-poms.
Goals are always set in place. This past weekend ended the high school career of seniors. It is wished that they have continued success in whatever goals are set in place for their future. Those graduates from the Sugar Grove area were Margaret Connor, Myra Mitchell (salutatorian), Allden Rexrode, Tanner Rodgers, Dillon Smith, and Dustin Smith. The writer is wishing for their dreams and hopes to come true through hard work and dedication. Congratulations!
Life’s little instructions include the following:
- Plant a garden.
- Play UNO.
- Watch clouds float by.
- Feed the birds.
- Look at the stars.
Much needed rain fell Friday night and into the early Saturday morning hours. In this area, around 1.5 inches fell. The rain will make sure lawn mowers are busy buzzing around lawns. Hats off to the homeowners who are weed eating on banks and around fence posts. This all adds to the “Almost Heaven” appearance to which Sugar Grove is noted. Farmers are greasing up their mowers in order to mow their fields. Nature has said that it is time for mowing!
This week’s quotes are as follows:
“A harmonious family leads to prosperity in everything.” — Chinese Proverb
“The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to do before I sleep.” — Robert Frost.
“Do what you can, with what you’ve got, where you are.” — Teddy Roosevelt
“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” — Malcolm X
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” — Steve Jobs
Sitting inside is a good place to hear the “Talk of the Grove.”
Primary election was held last Tuesday with 21 percent of the Sugar Grove precinct residents casting their vote. At one time, it was not at all unusual for everyone to come out and vote with persons bringing in residents who otherwise had no way of getting to the polls to cast their vote. Perhaps in the fall, the General Election will bring more out to increase this percentage. Hats off to those running for any office. Virginia Propst, age 101, has had a record for voting, missing one or two elections in her lifetime. Her daughter, Ruth, brought her to Sugar Grove to vote once again. She is a dedicated patriotic citizen. What a wonderful role model!
Flowers continue to show forth their glory. The irises are beautiful this year with unusually beautiful ones blooming in the yard of Melissa and Rodney Dahmer.
Autumn Olive trees have become quite invasive in all necks of the woods. The writer is wondering if there is a real need for them.
Dolan Paul, the emu, still continues to greet motorists along the Sinnett Lane roadway. Not many motorists can brag about that!
Saturday visitors in the home of Willard and Judy Rader were Bob and Marti Fisher of Romney.
The Steven Propst sale got rained out Saturday; however, a nice crowd came out Sunday afternoon to finish the sale. St. John Lutheran Church sold food with barbecue hot dogs being the top seller.
Wesley, Becky, Ben, Emma and Nathan Puffenbarger spent the weekend in Piney Point, Maryland. They fished and toured the PAX River Naval Air Museum. Ben and Emma got to spend time in a flight simulator. They also toured Piney Point Lighthouse and Maritime Museum.
Rose Smith of Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania, spent a few hours on Monday visiting her cousin, Phil Downs.
Evelyn Varner attended the funeral of Michael Grogg, son of Russell and Kathleen Hughes Grogg, this past Saturday. Then on Sunday, she attended the 92nd birthday party for Junior Grogg at Riven Rock.
Clickety-clacks for the chin waggers are as follows:
- Olympic gold medals are at least 92.5 percent silver.
- The most expensive gold coin ever sold was a 1933 U.S. $20 gold piece. At the 2021 auction it brought $18.9 million.
- The official animal of Scotland is the unicorn.
- Western Australia is home to what is believed to be the oldest of life on Earth, the Stromatolites.
- More than 852 distinct languages are spoken in Papua, New Guinea.
Concerns for this week are as follows: Bob Adamson, John Ashley, Roger Ashley, Mercedes Aumann, Richard Bennett, Ed Bodkin, “Bo” Boggs, Marie Cole, Christian Dasher, Benny Evick, Isaac Eye, Linda Eye, Marie Eye, Mary Eye, Carl Gant, the Genevieve Glover family, Lola Graham, Patsy Green, JC Hammer, Marlene Harman, Marvin Hartman, Steve and Armanda Heavner, Grace Hedrick, Jim Hiner, Evan Hise, Tim Hively, Edsel and Mary Ann Hogan, Virgil Homan, Jr., Adalbert Hoover, Keith Hoover, Myrtle Hoover, Debbie and Enos Horst, Lisa and Mike Jamison, Jessica Janney, Alice Johnson, Richard Judy, Marsha Keller, Kim Kline, Ginger Knight, Tracie Knight, Melissa Lambert, Robert Lambert, Ronnie Lambert, Rex Landis, Roger and Skip Mallow, Yvonne Marsh, Ed May, Gary McDonald, Neil McLaughlin, Rose Miller, Bruce Minor, Tom Mitchell, Barbara Moats, Gloria Moats, John Morford, Bill Mullenax, Helen Nash, Aaron Nelson, Ruth Nelson, Cheryl Paine, Wanda Pitsenbarger, Eldon “Butch” Puffenbarger, Alda Propst, Mike Propst, Sheldon Propst, Stanley Propst, the Clement Rader, Jr. family, Tom Rader, Brandon Reel, Charles Rexrode, Jason Rexrode, Linda Fay Rexrode, Pam Rexrode, Dennis Riggleman, Donna Ruddle, Jenny Ruddle, the Richard Ruddle, Sr., family, Brittany Shriver, Annie Simmons, Phyllis Simmons, Erin Simmons, Eva Simmons, Judy Simmons, Robbie Sites, Mike Skiles, the Stanna Smith family, Tina Stuben, Steve Stump, Elizabeth Terry, Rosa Tichenor, Linda and Larry Vandevander, Sandra Vandevander, Raymond Varner, Amy Vaus, Estelle Wagner, Rene White, Judy Williams, Ann and Jerry Wimer and Margaret Wimer.
