I'm looking forward again to the barristerlike barkings of effervescent Fayetteville attorney Jim Rose III (again clad in colorful civilian uniform) as he transforms into the role of drill sergeant who assigns volunteers to the serving line at the M&N Augustine Foundation Easter Feed.
As always, I'll serve feasters with their choice of white or wheat bread. In his public letter announcing this year's event Rose emphasized my familiar task had been preassigned, always at the end of the line. Fitting, eh?
The only thing, he also wrote, that could keep me from fulfilling that task was a meteor striking me dead during the commission of a crime. Yeah, I deserved that one.
Now in its 22nd spring, this community event, named in honor of late Fayetteville alderman Trent Trumbo, has grown each year to now serving and delivering at least 6,000 meals. This year's feed will be 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday at the Central United Methodist Church on Dickson Street.
Among my favorite people, Merlin Augustine and his wife Beverly will be welcoming people to the popular free feast where the most influential folks in Washington County voluntarily serve all comers with spoonfuls and smiles.
I suspect Sheriff Tim Helder will be there again this year, along with new district judge and former prosecutor John Threet, current prosecutor Matt Durrett, County Judge Marilyn Edwards, Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan and on and on. It's always an impressive and lengthy list of volunteers for this popular feed.
Under the slogan "Turning Compassion into Action," the Augustine Foundation was launched by Merlin and his family in honor of his parents on Nov. 16, 1992. It's symbol, which reads "Unity Lights the World," says it all about this annual event as well as others hosted by the nonprofit organization which also hosts the annual popular International Festival. In addition to thousands of dollars in contributions, major local corporations also donate tons of food to the Easter Feed. And it's all prepared, served and delivered by an army of hundreds of volunteers, many of whom have done so eagerly for decades.
I'll grab a loaf and begin practicing my militaristic technique to precisely align bread slices as 3rd District Rep. and former National Guard Col. Steve Womack commanded of me a few years back. He might show up again this year for inspection.
The Easter Feed understandably has become one of the most beloved and attended functions of the year in and around Fayetteville, even for those who can't show up, who will have a meal delivered to their home courtesy of this organization that indeed turns compassion into action.
Flags over elderly welfare
I noticed the same legislative committee (House Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs Committee) that refused to approve Fayetteville Democrat Rep. Greg Leding's highly relevant House Bill 1932, which would legally ensure nursing home residents can use video recorders in their tax-supported rooms, had no problem a day later heartily recommending HB1993 that requires Arkansas colleges and universities to fly our state and national flags.
What a noble and morally conscious group of patriots.
Of course, the feel-good flag bill wasn't being actively opposed by a self-interested industrial herd of political contributors who control the nursing homes. That's the voting spirit, legislative committee members--care for the flags over the individual freedoms they supposedly represent.
NWA expanding
Over a half million and climbing in Northwest Arkansas! That's the latest population figure from the U.S. Census Bureau. And it's continued growing since last year when another 9,278 had arrived in Northwest Arkansas since the previous year.
The region includes Washington, Benton, Madison counties and McDonald County, Mo.
Those of us who call this place our home have seen it steadily expand since the late 1990s into a contiguous urban stretch of commerce and residences from West Fork to Jane, Mo., about 50 miles north. And the rising tide continues.
Fred's rebuilding
The bad news: I noticed in driving along North Walton Boulevard in Bentonville that a pile of rubble stood where the mega-popular Fred's Hickory Inn had smiled down on the highway. Only the original historic cabin that housed Fred's lounge remained standing on the backside.
The good news: What was my favorite restaurant will rise from the ashes in hopes of reopening by early fall. The original restaurant suffered irreparable damage in the wake of a fire last October.
JPH transferred
Former 3rd District GOP Congressman John Paul Hammerschmidt of Harrison was transferred last week from the intensive-care unit at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville to the acute-care unit at Regency Hospital at Northwest Medical in Springdale. I'd describe the 92-year-old public servant's condition based on family reports as fair after nearly six weeks in three ICU settings. He's undergoing physical therapy while being treated for complications involving heart and respiration. Fifty-bed Regency offers specialized respiratory care.
Thanks to all who've inquired and offered prayers for the widely respected man who also happens to be my uncle.
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Mike Masterson's column appears regularly in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Email him at [email protected].
Editorial on 03/31/2015