Jo Anne McKnight's Points North news, March 7

Lettie Broome, who for several years made her home at Eight Mile Nursing and

Rehabilitation Center, died Feb. 26 at age 110.
For the past 10 years near her September birthday, she graciously granted interviews

to reporters and shared her cake and ice cream with family, friends from her church

and other visitors.

Broome birthday2.jpgView full sizeLettie Broome celebrates her 110th birthday with

her niece, Linda Holston. (Press-Register file)

For most of those birthdays, she told stories about her younger years: she lost her

only son at age 6; she came from up around Silas and ran a boarding house for defense

workers during World War II; she loved to quilt; and she kept house and lived alone

until a fall at age 99 brought her to the nursing facility.

For the past couple of years, though, Ms. Lettie was a little more subdued, sometimes

informing a reporter that she "was tired of answering questions" or that she wished

everyone would leave so she could get her nap.

But she never tired of posing for photos with her friends from the Guilders Circle at

Chickasaw UMC — Betty Butler, Diane Clarke, Mildred Foster, Betty McLean-Sheffield

— or her niece, Rosemary Howell, and her nephews, Paul and J.C. Stanley and others.
Ms. Lettie didn't talk a lot about her philosophy of life, nor did she have any grand

ideas about how she came to live so long. But, her family said, she was a devout

Methodist "who never said an unkind word about anybody." When pressed for a reason

for her longevity, she attributed it to "clean living, eating right and getting the

proper rest."


Derald Eastman.jpgView full sizeDerald Eastman poses with his painting, "Waiting for

Spring," at the new Semmesonian exhibit. (Jo Anne McKnight/Press-Register

Correspondent)

On Feb. 24, Semmes Public Library was the setting for a reception for the artists

whose paintings will hang in the Semmesonian Art Space through April 5.

The oil/acrylic artworks and their topics are as varied as are the artists. One small

piece by Joanne Brandt, "Empty Pockets: Bayou La Batre," is particularly striking.

The painting shows three shrimp boats sitting idle in the water, partially obscured

by undergrowth on the shore. Though the title probably comes from the name of the

largest fishing vessel, the audience is more apt to see the motionless boats as a

commentary on the current economy in the Bayou.

Several of Warren Gatwood's pieces feature animals — a zebra, a group of wild horses

running free. Jeanette Byrd's oil of "Big Sky Montana" was painted for a friend who

loved the open spaces of that area.

The multi-talented Betty Barnes displayed a painting called "The Violin," which

encompassed the things she finds most valuable: music, literature and art.
A skilled musician who plays several instruments, Barnes informed an audience of 30-

35 with her demonstration of how a dulcimer works, and then entertained them with a

simple rendition of "You Are My Sunshine."

Other artists include Paula Stadther, Betty Brunson, Derald Eastman and Semmesonian

curator Mary Rodning. Eastman's "Waiting for Spring" shows sailboats languishing in

the Bay just waiting to get going as soon as the weather turns fair, and Rodning's

Norwegian folk art shows up beautifully in the work she's done on her grandmother's

tea tray. Pam Howell, owner of Pam's Patio Flowers, provided an arrangement that

added a festive air to the reception.

Fundraisers

The Saraland Lions Club's third annual Pancake Breakfast will be March 12 from 6:30

to 10:30 a.m. at Catfish Junction, 300 Industrial Parkway in Saraland. Proceeds will

go to the Saraland High School band uniform fund and to other Lions Club charity

projects.
Saraland Lions Club Pancake Breakfast.jpgView full sizeAaron Ludlam, left, and Paul

Stanley will be among the volunteers at the Saraland Lions Club Pancake Breakfast on

March 12. Ludlum plays snare drum for Saraland High Band, which will receive some of

the proceeds. (Courtesy of Martin Walker)

Tickets are $5 in advance and $6 at the door; children up to 5 years old with a paid

adult eat free. Tickets are available at Catfish Junction, Smith's Hardware, Quint's

Hardware and Sporting Goods, Saraland Lions Club members and members of the Saraland

High School band.


Martin Walker, public relations chairman for the Lions Club, said the breakfast menu

will be pancakes, Conecuh sausage and a choice of coffee, milk or orange juice.
Entertainment will be provided by the Saraland High School band, which was recently

rated "Superior" at the District Competition. Bailey Trout from Saraland High and

Tayler Houseknecht from University of Mobile will sing.

The Pancake Breakfast fundraiser has been very popular in the past two years, and,

said Walker, "We don't want to keep anyone waiting in line" to be served. So the club

has rented a large tent., meaning that there's no delay in getting that breakfast

before ball practice or other activities. Guests have a choice of dining inside the

restaurant or joining the crowd under the tent.

In addition to raising funds through pancake breakfast sale, the Lions have a number

of prizes that some lucky ticket holders will win.