Holiday Edition 2003 - Volume XXXIII Number 1 E-mail Number 6, December 2003

NFTH#6

Home Up NFTH #12 Jim & Connie's Holiday Greetings 2005 NFTH#1 NFTH#2 NFTH#3 NFTH#4 NFTH#5 NFTH#6 NFTH#7 NFTH#8 NFTH#9 NFTH #10

Letter from the Editor:

Here we are again, fall of 2003, and we find ourselves deeply immersed in the Holiday Season, Advent, a time of waiting!  All of us have had a busy year in 2003.

I want to take this time to thank (thank you, thank you, thank you) those of you that have sent money to help support the newsletter.  I have had a big learning curve this past year in getting acquainted with the software and still be able to make this a printable document.  Sooooooo, things have been slow on the printing end of things.  As I am only printing copies of the newsletters for the Seniors, this newsletter will accompany a printed copy of last year’s newsletter for the Seniors.

For those of us that aren’t Seniors, you can view your copy on the internet @ www.fromherznewsletter.com either on your own system, or you can always go to any library and log onto the internet.  Most libraries will let you download and print for a small fee. Usually internet access is free.

Please watch the Web page for announcements for Family Reunion activities.  Please have your newsletter items for the spring issue to me no later than April 15, 2004 (tax day!).

For genealogy information on our family, please contact Dan (Art’s Dan) at mckenziemarket@continet.com .  Dan has also graciously offered his time to help me re-type some of the older Newsletters to archive.  If you have a little time to retype old newsletters into a word document for me, please contact me at congale@aol.com so I can send you old copies for re-typing.  Being a purist, I would request that you re-type the old newsletters keeping their original format as best that you can.  I will do the re-editing for posting.  Thank you, Dan.  And, Thank you for all your work on genealogy.

Celebrations of Life!  We Celebrated the Lives of Chris Holt, Gladys King and Bill King in 2003.  I found the following poem that I want to share that is dedicated to all of our loved ones that have passed. 

My First Christmas in Heaven

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below with tiny lights

Like Heaven’s reflecting in the snow.

The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away the tear,

For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear,

But the sounds of music can’t compare with the Christmas Choir up here.

I have no words to tell you, the joy the voices bring,

For it is beyond description, to hear the angels sing.

 

I know how much you miss me,

I see the pain inside your heart,

But I am not so far away,

We really aren’t apart.

So be happy for me, dear ones,

You know I hold you dear,

And be glad I’m spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

 

I sent you each a special gift, from my heavenly home above,

I sent you each a memory of my undying love.

After all, love is a gift more precious than gold,

It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.

Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do,

For I can’t count the blessings or love he has for each of you.

So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear,

Remember, I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

                                                                                                               -Unknown

Left Over News 2002  ~

FROG 2002                                                                           October 2002

Friday’s Reunion festivities started at the Mt. Angel Brewery where we had 33 in attendance.  This is the biggest year ever.  Even some of our second cousins were in attendance . . . Theresa Chione (Mary’s Janet’s Theresa) from Illinois, Greg Silbernagle (Art’s Louann’s Greg), and Jerod Fromherz (Art’s Leonard’s Jerod).  We had plenty of visiting, beer, Wine and good food to go around.  Florence paid us a visit towards the end of the evening and had a root beer float. 

When I went to Mt. Angel Towers to pick her up, I asked the two women at the front desk if they had seen Florence, that I was here to pick her up and take her down to the “Brew Pub”! Their reply was “Girls Night Out?!” . . . to which I replied “Of course!”.  When Buzz and I finally caught up with Florence, she was walking down the driveway toward the street.  Buzz has a bright red pickup . . . and the tool boxes on the sides make it resemble a fire truck . . . As Buzz’ and I approached Florence in the truck, I asked her if she was hitch hiking and did she want a ride? . . .  She giggled and replied that it would be nice to have a ride.  As she was getting into the truck she replied . . . “I didn’t know that you would send a fire truck to pick me up!”  and we all chuckled. . . Then proceeded down to the Mt. Angel Brewery where she “Crashed our party!” (With all the Cousins’ blessings, of course!). 

Saturday started out at Denny’s for breakfast, then on to the golf course for FROG where we played Best Ball over 18 holes.  The top golfer turned out to be David Raskin (Mary’s Karen’s husband David) the top golfer.  There were several other winners at golf, Ken Gerding, Buzz Fromherz, Marty Norton, Judy Fromherz, Jim Gale, Connie Gale, Walter Fromherz, and Dick Gerding winning the “Most Lost Balls” award. 

Saturday was a Marathon day for a lot of us as after golf we then moved to the Oregon City Elks Club to have a meal and have our bowling tournament.  We are still in the Naming stage for the Bowling Tournament.  Art Jr (Art’s Art) won the Adult trophy and Joelle Norton (Art’s Marty’s Joelle) won the kid’s trophy. 

Both events were well attended.  All the while Chuck & Don Fromherz (Charlie’s Chuck & Don) spent the day on their recumbent bicycles taking in the scenery in the mid-Willamette Valley.

Sunday brought breakfast at Tommy’s Grill in Corvallis, then off to the golf course for the play off for the FROG followed by the Picnic at Avery Park in Corvallis.

I found this in one of my files, and note that I did not finish it.  I also didn’t get it included in last year’s newsletter!  So here it is better late than never!

Please feel free to send me you account of the Reunion activities for 2003 to post for the spring issues of Newsletter From The Heart cg.

GREETINGS! auf deutsche from Erin Kelley! 

Ak nerozumiete po anglicky, len odpovedzte a pisem po slovensky. Aspon skusim! Ob Sie konnen nicht auf Englisch lesen, schreiben Sie mir, bitte, und ich werde auf Deutsch schreiben. Moeglich!

I will admit that I am sending this letter to absolutely everyone in my address book. I have always had a habit of staying (or trying to stay) in touch with absolutely anyone and everyone I know. At the ripe old age of almost 28, I have finally figured out that this is not necessarily advisable * or feasible! And I will only get to know more people as I age*

If you would like me to forever forget your email address (i.e. erase it from my database), let me know! Otherwise, please read on.

I wanted to send out a brief update as to the happenings in my little corner of the world. After departing Slovakia on June 20th, 2002, I traveled to Austria, Switzerland, Armenia and Russia. I spent 6 weeks in Russia studying Russian and riding my bike in the worst traffic I*ve ever seen. I came home in late August and took off for a 500 mile (800km) bike ride across Oregon, along with 2000 of my closest buddies. It was my welcome home present to myself.

After Cycle Oregon, I pursued gainful employment and got into my first post- leaving-the-US romantic relationship. In October, my mom and I went to Pennsylvania to visit with my dad. Until January, I was unemployed and keeping busy with personal pursuits. At the end of that month, I began work as an AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteer (like a domestic Peace Corps) in southeast Portland.

I moved up to Portland (within ˝ a mile of work) and continued volunteering in Canby. Not to mention returning frequently to spend time with my boyfriend, Todd. 

I began looking for other work a few months ago and interviewed without  success - until I got to Flexcar (www.flexcar.com). I became a member when I got home, as I have no plans to purchase a car for a long, long time.(Read: I would rather buy a big tricycle with a basket before I buy a car.) I*ve only used their cars a couple of times, but the whole concept really excites me. So when I heard of a job there, I jumped on it. And they picked me right up. I*ll start work there in early July.

In the meantime, I have my VISTA work to finish. I am also moving in with Todd in Canby, whom I can now properly call my fiancé. Rather than giving me a lavish diamond ring, Todd decided to give me a few chain rings to symbolize our forthcoming union* and yesterday we went for the inaugural ride on our brand new tandem. It is the most beautiful bicycle * and comfortable, too!

With a new job lined up and a new home in place, I am finally ready and  committed to staying in better touch with the people I care about * and who care about me! So do please forgive me for the lack of correspondence. The transition back to American culture has been difficult, albeit not in the traditional sense. The problem has been MY transition from Peace Corps  Volunteer to proud American citizen. I*m still working on it, but I*m much better now!

If you will be in or around Portland (or Canby) on the 21st of June, please come join Todd, his son Ehren, and I in our first annual Summer Solstice Toga Party! (View the invitation here:

http://www.evite.com/erin_layna@yahoo.com/SolsticeParty) We will be leaving for vacation to New Orleans on the 22nd and I*ll have some time between jobs following our return. Let me know if you want to get together!

My new contact information is as follows:

   Erin L Kelley

   1310 N Manzanita St

   Canby OR 97013-2948

   503.266.4648

   RLKelley@att.net

Wishing you all the very best!

Erin   

Michelle & Sean McKenzie write:

Hello!

I just thought I'd update you quickly.

In the summer of 2002 I finished my Master's degree in Special Education at Eastern Washington University. This last summer, I won an award for excellence in research for the thesis I wrote for my Master's program and it will be published soon. During the summer of 2003, I got a job teaching special education preschool students in the Spokane Public Schools. I am at Lincoln Heights Elementary. It has been a lot of work, but I enjoy the challenge.

Sean continues to work at Best Buy. His spare time is still spent playing in a band. They toured through the western part of the United States for about 2 1/2 weeks this summer and recently played in LA and Las Vegas.

This spring we added a dog to our family. His name is Oscar, and he is 3/4 miniature Daschund and 1/4 Chihuahua. He is a lot of fun doing tricks and tormenting our cat. We also celebrated our 5 year anniversary in July of 2003 and continue to enjoy married life!

Michelle & Sean McKenzie  (Jim’s Tom’s Michelle)

Russ & Marie write:

Hi Connie;

Just a short note that all is well in Reno. Our oldest son Kevin graduated from high school in June and left for the Coast Guard on September 20. Waiting on word of his graduation date, but told he should be home for Thanksgiving. We understand he is being assigned to Ketchikan, Alaska, after graduation. Enclosed is a short story on Peter's (our middle son) adventure in Yosemite National Park this last summer. He wrote it for an English class and proud dad thought is was a great story, of a real life adventure.  Youngest son Paul is finishing up CYO volleyball at St. Alberts and is also active in his Boy Scout Troop as the patrol leader for the Duck Patrol. Being a graduate of OSU, I would rather have heard the Beaver Patrol!!

Russ Fromherz (Art’s Russ) 

Reno, NV

“A BEAR” ADVENTURE

by Peter Fromherz of the Venture Patrol

 Most things do not scare me. I think of myself as a brave person, however this summer I had an experience that was the scariest of all.  

    I was on a five-day high adventure backpacking trip in Yosemite National Park with my Boy Scout patrol.  The trouble began the day we decided to leave our backpacks in camp and hike Half Dome with our daypacks. We had a great day hiking.  When we came back to camp we were very tired and one of the boys forgot to take the food out of his daypack and left it on the ground in front of his tent. We went to bed early.   We hadn’t been asleep long when suddenly I heard someone yelling “bear, bear!” I jump out of my sleeping bag and looked out my tent door. I saw my scoutmaster frozen in place with a rock in his hand and the largest male black bear standing about 3 feet away from him. The bear must have been at least 6 feet tall and weighed three hundred fifty pounds. My Scoutmaster yelled at the bear and the bear began to charge towards him.  Then my Scoutmaster picked up a rock and threw it as hard as he could and hit the bear in the side. The bear started to walk away, but suddenly he turned and went after my Scoutmaster again.  My Scoutmaster threw more rocks and then yelled some more, by this time my Scoutmaster’s wife decided to help.  They both yelled and ran at the bear, he must have seen that he was out numbered, he turned and ran away. We thought we safe at last.  Unfortunately, the bear returned in about 20 minutes, but by then half the camp was awake. We all began screaming and throwing rocks and we finally scared him away.  After waiting a while and the bear did not return we decided to go to bed. We hadn’t even make it into our tents when we heard a strange cry from the trees.  We shined our flashlights toward the trees and saw three pairs of glowing eyes starring at us. It was mother and her two cubs. The mother bear sent her cubs up the tree trying to get our bear bags. The cubs were bouncing on the branches trying to break the bag loose.  The mother was down below waiting go for the food to fall.  The bag finally fell and she ripped into the bag and took some of the food. We all ran toward her and she tried to run away with the bag, but we began throwing rocks at her and she dropped it after she was hit in the head with a rock.  It was like war out there, we would have gone for help if we hadn’t been 17 miles from the valley. Finally, at 4:00 A.M. we had chased off all the bears and we went back to bed.

The next morning a deer was standing in the same spot where the male bear had been the night before, it seemed like the whole experience had never happened.  

News from Charlie & Marilyn . . .

This year finds Charlie and Marilyn well and busy. In May Charlie took the trailer made his annual trip to Salem to ride with brother Don in the Strawberry Century, Lebanon and got in lots of riding around Oregon for a month.  Marilyn stayed home to attend a family wedding and attend her embroidery conference, where she won “Best of Show” for her embroidered Jacket and “First Place” on an embroidered doll.  Marilyn flew to Portland with grandson Mark (12 years old) to meet Charlie and attend the family reunion.   From there the three of us headed north along the Oregon and Washington coast giving Mark a real sightseeing trip to places he has never been.  He was very excited to see the Space Needle and we spent a few days in Seattle.  From there we headed north again to Canada ending in Prince George to see Charlie’s son, Chuck and wife Debbie.  During our visit there we went on a sailing trip and entered a race, which we won!  We went east to Jasper, Banff, Drumheller to see Dinosaurs, then south thru Montana, Yellowstone, and Utah.  This trip took 2 months and all were glad to get home after a very enjoyable time.  During September, Charlie again headed north to meet with family and friends to ride Cycle Oregon. Marilyn is teaching some embroidery and entering more contests.  She won second place, for the second time, this October in the “Heartfelt” contest with an Americana Rag Quilt – it never stops being thrilling to win!   November is taking us to Tucson, for a few days where Charlie will again race in the108 mile Tour de Tucson  – Marilyn is going along for the fun!  Christmas will be spent at home so we can plan next years traveling. 

Charlie’s heart is doing great – the doctor calls him his “marathon man”.  Marilyn had both hands fixed from carpal tunnel, the left in May and the right in October. Both are fine now.

We hope all our family is well and will have a wonderful holiday season.

Marilyn and Charlie

Just completed the Tour de Tucson – 109-bicycle race in 7 hours 20 minutes. Over 6000 riders in all the races, Tucson is filled with cyclists. All riders wore ankle bracelets for the timing machine and everyone had to contend with high winds today!  A total of 3207 riders completed the 109 mile race. I didn’t have a recumbent pass me! Total of 15 recumbents finished the race. First was 50 years old Second was 40 years old, I finished # 3 For age 64 & older all riders & all bikes I finished # 6

Leaving Tucson for home on Monday morning.  Have enjoyed several great dinners with cycling friends.

Charlie Fromherz  

Calimesa, CA

cell phone 909-731-8912    

UPDATE ON THE MARYLAND FROMHERZ’ (CHARLIE'S BILL' S FAMILY)

    Chris (31) and Beth and Ella(5 mos) have built home on their land  on the Beard family farm.He enjoys farming like his dad and granddad. Little Ella is getting familiar with the cattle and horses. Chris works with Whiting- Turner. and Beth is a teacher.

      Erica (26) continues to enjoy her work as artistic designer for Smart Woman,
a magazine in Baltimore.  She and Shiloh, her 75 lb greyhound, live in a house in
Canton, Baltimore.

       Kathy( almost 60) Fromherz Gabler lives closeby and continues to enjoy home physical therapy. 

Brother Gerard writes . . .   

Dear Connie,

Peace be with you.

Life has been very busy here this year, the busiest yet. Fr. Francis Michael is our temporary superior appointed by the Abbot of
Gethsemani for one year. Bonsai is doing better this year. Our fruitcake industry is slowly coming alive. We have launched on an advertising campaign. With 2/3 our monks over 70, it’s difficult to keep a float financially speaking. The retreat house has done well, at least the feed back is positive and donation are up a little. Much of my business has been planning the retreats for 2004 and getting a brochure out to tell others about it. An Allen Organ is here from a concert last weekend, so I’m learning more about organ registrations. We’ve changed our work schedule to 5 hours per day (30/week). However, it’s a very good week when I manage to work less than 48 hours. I’m slowly getting caught up after getting the brochure out. Actually a lot of wonderful things are happening in my life, in our lives that are too private to talk about. Doing some spiritual direction is always a great challenge and usually a great joy. So please pray for some people who are going through deep conversions—literally. We have a few new monks. So we are not at all dying as a community, we’re just top heavy, with 6 in the 90’s, 6 in the 80’s and 17 in the 70’s out of 46 monks. We’re blessed with new musicians, an organist is coming this week from another monastery. A computer engineer with a great counter bass voice transferred from another community. These later are juniors, very good monks indeed. Fr. James Behrens, a great writer and singer also returned. So the sound of choir has come a long way since its low midsummer. We have a Nigerian monk who is coming to help us out for a couple of years, so Africa is evangelizing America. We have a Nigerian physician, Sam Obiekwe, in the retreat house right now. He visits frequently. Sam and his doctor friend Jonathan are deeply faithful Catholics. I’m physically healthy. My only complaint is that I need to eat a lot of calories to keep from loosing weight, but that is most likely because my colon passes food on quickly. Spiritually lots of good things have happened that I would only share in private. Also, I have plenty of reminders that I have a long way to go! Mostly I rejoice in the amazing grace of God and His saints. May Mary our Mother carry us all into the fullness of Life in Jesus Christ our Lord and Lover.

As for the world, it is and will be a battle ground between good and evil until the end of time. And God word is surely correct when it says that Satan prowls around as an angle of light looking for whoever he can fool. Thus, we need to be very patient with erring sinners who don’t intend evil, they just get fooled. That is all of us by the way. We all are deceived by evil at some stage. Recall the St. Paul had many sleepless nights… anxiety for the Churches because of all the subtle and not so subtle evils that befall God’s Church. However, we know that Jesus says that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church. They’ll attack, and injure it in many ways but never prevail. So we take courage, God love is everlasting. His love never fails. In fact I know well what St. Paul says in Rom 8:28 “Everything works out for the good for those who love God.” Yes, there is so much amazing good coming out in the world, so many faithful people—who are growing not only in numbers but in the depth of their faith and love.

God bless you all.

Br. Gerard (Florence’s David)

Quick Message from the Holt’s in Salem . . .

Hi from Mike, Mary, Brian and Travis. We have had a tough year, but it is getting better slowly. Brian was the Grand Marshall for the Relay for Life in Keizer. Chris was on honorary one and a really brave little girl was also co Grand Marshall. (she just passed away from her cancer) Summer did not slow down after that. Brian and I were invited to go to New Mexico to the Don Imus ranch. It was for siblings that have lost siblings. It was very interesting Don Imus had a different personality (if you have every heard his talk show that is what he is like in person) Brian and I spent a week Riding, cleaning stalls and meeting others from around the country. It was a working cattle ranch that only served Vegan food. (I have had enough fake turkey to last a long time) We came back expecting to have the rest of the summer quiet and ended up taking my Mom to Disneyland. (she had never been) After a rocky start Mom, Brian, Travis and I had a good time. Then flew up to watch Judy take command of a unit in Sacramento. Sometime in there Mike started a new job as a financial aid advisor. Brian then spent a week at basketball camp and from there he spent a week at Camp UKANDU put on at the American Cancer Society. He had a blast. Travis spent a week at Safety Town and learned a lot. Mike helped coach Brian's football team. They were undefeated and were told by the administrator that they had a lot of class and great attitude. I started back to work in September and that is going fine. Anyway hope all is going good for everyone. We have a name for Relay for Life team it is Chris's Crusaders Liz came up with that name. If anyone would like to join us next year let us know. Take care.

Love Mike, Mary, Brian and Travis Holt 

Greetings! from our cousin David Trask and family in Medford, Oregon . . .

Connie:

David (descendant of Isaac and Almeda VanBibber King) and wife Libia and son 4 1/2 year old son Ryan cruised the Baltic Sea this summer, visiting Copenhagen, Helsinki, Stockholm, St. Petersburg, (Russia), Moscow, Tallin, (Estonia), Gdansk, (Poland) and Oslo.  Although not a direct descendant of the Fromherz family, we remain interested in this branch of the family, as Sol King was Isaac King's brother.  David has been the King historian since 1989 and continues to collect family trees and obituaries of family members descended from Nahum and Serepta King.  This would include the Fromherz family.  Therefore, he would appeciate family members sending to him recent obituaries and updates to family trees:

David M. Trask
1533 Nottingham Circle
Medford, Oregon  97504-7202

We wish everyone a happy holiday season and a new year.

David, Libia and Ryan Trask
 

 

Tayla Marie Gale taking time to smell the flowers.  (Jim’s Connie’s, Jay’s Tayla)

 Snow Angel Amaya Louise Gale at G'ma & G'pa Gale's.  (Jim's Connie's Jay's Amaya)

Brief note from David aka Brother Gerard . . .

Dear Connie,

Peace be with you.

We are looking forward to Holy Week and Easter with eager anticipation. I get a double whammy this year with the retreat house being super full from Thursday through Easter Sunday. Please give my congratulations to Jay, and my love to all.

God bless you.,

Br. Gerard David  (Florence’s David)

Editor’s reply to Brother Gerard . . . 

-----Original Message-----
From: Congale@aol.com [mailto:Congale@aol.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2003 1:02 AM
To: gerard@trappist.net
Subject: Re: Happy birthday.

Thanks for the Birthday Greetings!  I am soon to be an offficial Senior Citizen - 55!  It is amazing all the mail that comes, like last minute life insurance, AARP, Soc Security, Nursing Home Insurance, etc., etc.


Yes, I have been quiet lately.  Very Busy at work.  This time of year we are doing performance evaluations and performance Agreements . . . and when you supervise approx 50 people it takes about 4-5 months to prepare and deliver to all staff members, plus I have recently hired 6 new staff members and had to fire 2 staff. . .  which makes a total of 6 staff in the past 5 months.  Of course they don't just get fired in one day, it takes months of performance improvement plans with emphasis on helping them succeed to no avail . . . all in all a very stressful process for all, the staff member, the remaining staff and myself!  Most of them are amenable and usually resign in lieu of resignation thus leaving with relationships intact. (Which is the best way to leave . . .but still very stressful.)

The Grandbabies are GREAT!  Amaya is now 3 and very much a little person.  Tayla is 2 now and isn't far behind her big sister!  Mac is now 15 months and walking (more like running) all over the place.

Jay is graduating with his Master's in Engineering from WSU in Pullman on May 10, 2003.  A very proud moment for all!  He is really a brilliant engineer and has received special recognition as well as patents on his designs.

I just knitted (and donated) a WSU afgan for Relay for Life, American Cancer Society.  My UW Husky afgan from last year brought in the highest bid in the silent auction for Relay.

 We did not make it to Arizona this past winter . . . we are planning a motorcycle touring vacation for a month in Alaska with our riding buddies from Portland. 

Dad is holding his own.  His lumps are back but rather slow growing so he is waiting before they resume treatment. He has a very high level quality of life. . . really, he has minimal  pain, plays

 9 holes of golf if he has a golf cart, usually drives himself to church every morning, enjoys a breakfast or dinner out once in a while and really enjoys his card games (several times daily).  Mom just had her first cataract removed yesterday and will have the other removed on May 13.  She did very well and is in a minimal amount of discomfort.  Dad was very proud of himself when he successfully taped your dad's 90th birthday party and sent me the tape to share.

God Bless, and Peace,

Connie 

Announcement from Mary Holt . . .

Hi Everyone I just heard on 1190 Kex they are having a fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society on Friday. I don't know all the details yet. Sue Sumpter from the Oregon Chapter helped us so much when Chris was first diagnosed. She was the one that sent me a lot of helpful information regarding treatment etc... I will send more information as I receive it. Anyone that donates in Oregon it will got to the Oregon Chapter. Talk with you soon.

Love Mary  (Art’s Mary)

E-mail from Chuck & Marilyn

As we get older?

Could Tea be Good for the Immune System?

Skip the coffee and go for a cup of tea instead. It may just boost your immune system. HEALTH NEWS - An ordinary cup of tea may be a powerful infection fighter, a study suggests. Researchers report in the proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that they have found in tea a chemical that boosts the body's defense fivefold against disease.

They said the chemical primes immune system cells to attack bacteria, viruses and fungi and could, perhaps, be turned into a disease-fighting drug someday.

Dr. Jack F. Bukowski of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and Harvard Medical School said Monday that he and his co-authors isolated the chemical in the laboratory and then proved with a group of volunteers that it did protect against germs.

L-Teanine Sharpens Body's Defenses

"Results of their test gave clear proof that five cups of tea a day sharpened the body's defenses against disease," says Bukowski.

In the study, a substance called L-theanine was isolated from ordinary black tea. The study found that the substance is also found in green and oolong tea, which also are processed from traditional tea tree leaves.

Bukowski said L-theanine is broken down in the liver to ethylamine, a molecule that primes the response of an immune blood cell called the gamma-delta T cell.

"We know from other studies that these gamma-delta T cells in the blood are the first line of defense against many types of bacteria, viral, fungal and parasitic infections," he said. "They even have some anti-tumor activity."

The T cells prompt the secretion of interferon, a key part of the body's chemical defense against infection, Bukowski said.

To further test the finding, the researchers had 11 volunteers drink five cups a day of tea, and 10 others drink coffee. Before the test began, they drew blood samples from all 21 test subjects.

After four weeks, they took more blood from the tea drinkers and then exposed that blood to the bacteria called E-coli. Bukowski said the immune cells in the specimens secreted five times more interferon than did blood cells from the same subjects before the weeks of tea drinking. Blood tests and bacteria challenges showed there was no change in the interferon levels of the coffee drinkers, he said.

Possibility of Making a Drug to Boost Immune System

Bukowski said it may be possible to further isolate and refine L-theanine from tea and use that as a drug to boost the infection defense of the body.

The health effects of tea have been extensively studied. It has been linked to lower heart disease and cancer risk through the action of flavonoids, a type of antioxidant. Other studies have linked tea to helping combat osteoporosis, the brittle bone disease, and to relieving some allergy symptoms.

Copyright * 2003 KABC-TV and the Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Last Updated: Apr 22, 2003

Charlie Fromherz 

Calimesa, CA

cell phone 909-731-8912

E-mail from Mike & Mary Holt ~ (Art’s Mary)

I thought it would be easier to e-mail it to you instead of Sending it with Mike.

April 27, 2003

Hello to all my friends,

I am participating in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. This team

event will be held at CCC in Salem, Oregon on Friday June 13th

at 11:30 AM through Saturday June 14th at 12:00 PM. We will be walking in memory

of my brother and son Christopher Holt, who lost his battle with cancer this past New Years Day. If you are in the

neighborhood, please stop by and cheer for my team!

The success of my team depends on the donations of our sponsors. Our team goal is to raise $1,000.00.  I hope that you will support our efforts this year by mailing me a check today. The American Cancer Society will mail you a receipt for your tax-deductible donation.  Please make checks payable to The American Cancer Society.

Hope shines the brightest during the Luminaria ceremony at Relay For Life.  Luminaria's will be lit around the track, and the field lights will be turned off. At around 10 PM, we will have a ceremony and observe a moment of silence.

Walkers and runners will continue their course around the track lit only by these special lights. The Luminaria will continue to burn through out the evening in tribute to those who have lost the battle to cancer, and to those who are still fighting the disease. This moving memorable portion of the event is often the most powerful time of the entire relay for life activity.

For a donation you may honor a loved one with a Luminaria. If you choose to do this, a personal message may be placed on the Luminaria bag.

Due to your generosity, the American Cancer Society is able to continue their important work of research, education advocacy, and patient services.

Thank you for all of your support!!

Thank you, and God Bless..

Brian and Mary Holt  

For more information about this very special event, you can visit the following

site:

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/GI/gi_1.asp

 

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY DONATION FORM

DONATION FOR LUMINARY CEREMONY

Be a part of this special ceremony to honor and remember those touched by

cancer.

(Please print all information clearly)

Your Name:_____________________________________________________________

Address:_______________________________________________________________

City / State / Zip:_________________________________________________________

Phone (Day / Evening)____________________________________________________

I would like a candle lit in _____honor of (or) ____in memory of:

 

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Amount Enclosed: $ ___________________

Please make checks payable to: American Cancer Society

Election News from Brother Gerard ~ (Florence’s David)

Dear Connie,

Peace be with you.

Congratulations to Jay! That is really good news! (ed.  Jay graduated with his Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering in May 2003.  cg)

I've delayed in writing until our news was in about our election. Our new Superior is Fr. Francis Michael, my novice master here and the one in charge of Bonsai where I worked the first ten years here. Our community is very peaceful. I seems that I will continue in the retreat house and as cantor (which means I'm in charge of music and occasionally actual cantor). June 11th I'll go the Archdiocesan Jubilee celebration with Fr. Phillip. It's my 25th anniversary and his 50th. He is wheelchair bound and has extreme dementia but is a great gentle old soul.

Presently Br. Juan Diego, a close friend who was sent to our daughter house in La Loma Venezuela, is visiting for a couple of days. The political situation is very dangerous in Venezuela. Some one came and butchered two of their cattle and stunned a third. They have had encounters with men who they suspect are preparing to steal their car or kidnap the Abbot. People are being killed daily. The neighbor accused their night watchman of firing on his workers on the neighboring farm even though the distance to their farm way beyond the range of any ordinary rifle. They suspected that the neighbor was trying to get them to admit that their rifle would not come close to reaching that distance, thus admitting that they were vulnerable to attach! "Most of the brothers seem very peaceful" he says, "They are ready to die!" Actually their superbly fine coffee is beginning to sell in the USA, so they will be able to support themselves. The coffee market in Venezuela is so bad that they can hardly break even let alone make money on it. Most of all at this time I'm very thankful to the Lord for seven years in solemn vows and 25 years of priesthood.

God bless you all.

Love,

Br. Gerard David  

Reply from Connie ~ (Jim’s Connie)

-----Original Message-----

From: Gale, Connie [mailto:GALE.C@ghc.org]

Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2003 5:13 PM

To: gerard@trappist.net

Subject: RE: Newsletter From The Heart e-mail address changes

Thanks!  Peace be with you.

Jay graduated with his Masters in Engineering from WSU on Saturday May 10. He is truly a brilliant engineer.  He will turn 31 on May 26.

Spent last week-end with Tami, Jay and girls here in Spokane.  Amaya is now 3 and Tayla 2 and so very precious. 

We will be camping with Di, Joe & Mac this Memorial Weekend @ Grand Coulee Dam in Washington. Leaving Thursday May 22 . . .

May 22 is my dad's 79th Birthday!

Send news for Newsletter from the Heart by June 15.

Love & Peace,

Connie 

Kathy Cappetta Writes:

6/1/2003

Hi Connie,

I hope this note finds everyone healthy and happy!

My 44th birthday (5/18) was on a bad chemo weekend so we celebrated the following weekend.  We went out to dinner and karaoke with friends on Friday night; Mike really wowed the crowd the Engelbert Humperdink's "After The Lovin" and Neil Diamond's "Cherry, Cherry".  Mike has had so many years as a professional singer and musician that he really stands out next to the amateurs, he still works with the band on occasion, but not as frequently as before.  On Saturday we went to Hollywood (to the radio network and stations where I worked and where Mike continues to work) to have lunch with one of our friends and to have a meeting with general manager.  We had fun!

This weekend, we went for Sushi and more karaoke with friends on Friday night.  Then on Saturday we met some friends at Huntington Beach for a weenie roast.  We got to walk down in the ocean too, something I haven't done in YEARS.

We are on the go, if I feel good, we're gone.  Can't sit around.  Too much to do, good friends to be with, people to see, and places to go.  One thing cancer has done for me is to kick me in the behind and get us moving.  It's too easy to get caught up in the grind and take life for granted.  Mike says he can't keep up with me, but we sure are having a good time.

I had a CAT scan done in December that showed that the cancer had spread to my lungs and sternum.  I had another CAT scan done in April and got the results on April 15th, Mike and my 22nd wedding anniversary, that shows NO SIGN OF CANCER ... YEA!!!

I am supposed to have surgery coming up soon and a couple more chemo sessions after that.  I am determined that we will beat this.  There are so many folks in the network with God at the helm and the power of prayer that I can feel optimistic.  I can't do it alone, and I am so thankful for everyone's prayers and support.  Mike is my biggest cheer leader and he makes my load so much easier to bear.  God brought me a very good man and I am thankful.

My progress is good, my outlook is good, and I pray that everyone has good health.

Much love to you all, and thanks too!

Love Always,

Kathy Cappetta  ~ (Charles’ Charlie’s Kathy)

Newsletter reply from Brother Gerard ~ (Florence’s David)

Dear Connie,

Peace be with you.

Please do share whatever you deem appropriate from my letter--I rejoice though that Jay is doing so well!

Last night Br. Juan Diego shared more about Venezuela and I learned that their situation is indeed very precarious. The people who slaughtered three of there cattle were profession meat cutters. They had it all cut and wrapped ready for the supermarket! The people who have been enquiring about the monks are professionals also. Since they are isolated on the "hill"--6,600 ft. at the top and the local police have NO Vehicle because Chavez will not fund them properly, they have no recourse. So two of my best friends (literally) are going back today into very dangerous territory in Venezuela and Columbia (Br. Pablo-Maria),where criminals have much more power than the police and national guard and their lives have already been threatened more than once. I pray that you too may have peace with the nurses who feel vulnerable and who are often turned into paper pushing robots according local tales! God bless you. Br. Gerard David 

 Snail Mail from      

Inez L Thompson

10/9/03

Dear Connie,

I apologize for not informing all of my extended family that my “Dale” died August 5, 2001, leaving a huge hole in my heart and life.

My mother (Louise King) is doing well, has diabetes in control, blood pressure down, works to keep glaucoma from taking all of her eyesight, and batteries in hearing aid so she can hear reasonably well, works in her flower beds and makes thousands of “feely hearts” every year.

Brother Bob counting years to retirement from Washington State Highway Department and hoping his back doesn’t completely give out before then.

I manage to keep busy with a lot of organizations as much as my fibromyalgia will let me on a daily basis.

Holiday Greetings and blessings to all.

Love,

Inez Thomason 

Ph 208-284-1468

(do not have fax or e-mail)

Snail Mail from Rita and Roy Reichenbach

10/8/03

We really don’t have any news for the family newsletter, except that “we’re alive and well, way out here in Cheyenne, Wyoming!”

Holiday Greetings and blessings to all,

Rita & Roy ~ (Joe’s Rita) 

Snail Mail from Florence & Louis Gross

One Towers Lane

Box 2017

Mt. Angel, OR, 97362

August 12, 2003

Dear Family:

Since I do not do the “Newsletter” anymore, I miss all my connections with the goings-on of our family clan.  I think the younger generation are keeping in touch with their email connections - - - we are not up with this modern communication! “Sorry!”

We seniors (my brothers & sister) are keeping in touch by telephone.  We seem to be getting along quite well in spite of all our health problems.  My problems (and Louis’ too) require us close to a RRM.  Dad even knows where they (the RRS) are in all the stores where we may be shopping?  Even though we are not sick, have no pains, eat normally, sleep pretty well (with a few sleepless nights), both of us continue our “Hobby jobs”,  Louis with his grapes, strawberries, and tomatoes (he accidentally has both red and yellow tomatoes).

My flowers have been very rewarding to me - - - I give them some attention every day and glad that I am still agile enough to handle a hoe and pull weeds and get rid of the old blooms and trim wherever needed.

I continue with crocheting projects (I have given away over 100 lap afghans and several large ones.  I am now about finished with a large one that I am making for Father Taffe’s super-auction that he has every fall (I guess you know that he has 3 houses to care for young mothers and their babies).  It is fantastic how people give thousands of dollars - - - many times bidding far above the value of items being auctioned - - - I am trying to make this afghan as neat and beautiful as possible so that I might bring in a hundred or more dollars for the organization.

Oh, yes,!!  We are still involved with music - - -Louis with the 4th degree Knights of Columbus “Color Guard”.  He will be in the “Crooked Finger” Church’s Celebration of the Assumption this coming Friday.  That will be in the early evening (at Scotts Mills).  Then we have a meeting to Attend in McMinnville at noon the same day - - - This happens to us too often (having 2 or more meetings or functions in one day???) usually after a day like that we aren’t worth very much the next day.  (Of course our biggest problem that may lay us low is that we seem to be all “tired out” much of the time?) - - - But, you know us, we are known as “work-a-holics” and find it difficult for us to lay around “twiddling our fingers”.

I am glad that dad is still a good driver, as it seems that we have so many places to go - -  I drive very well but have practically quit - - - I drive only when Dad’s eye doctor says he needs a driver home - - - and that doesn’t happen very often.  We were glad that our travel agent volunteered to take us to the airport and back home for our cruise trip.  (If we haven’t told you, we had a wonderful cruise with Land Tours to Norway, Iceland, Ireland and Southern England).  Now we are restless to get out for a few days in the motorhome - - - maybe wait until after the Oktoberfest??????  Of course, we ask you to continue to pray for our safety and our health.

Love always to each of you.

Mom & Dad Gross

Florence & Louis  

With best wishes to you this Season and everyday in the New Year.  Love, the Northups

December 2003

        Season’s Greetings to you all!  We enjoy the cards and notes from family and friends keeping us posted about events, milestones, and other news.  It just always surprises us how quickly 12 months can go by and we start thinking “We need to get cards sent out!.

        Marty and I are fine although older, grayer, poorer of eyesight, and thinner of hair.  She’s coping well however as I maintain my high level of youthful vigor and stamina!  We continue to teach science at the middle school level, our 24th year, believe it or not.  As we keep up with the kids activities we still find time for some long walks, a good ski, or a scenic hike up some local mountain.

        The biggest change in our lives has been Jennifer’s departure to college.  She is attending St. Benedicts College in St. Joseph Minnesota, about an hour northwest of Minneapolis.  It’s an all women’s school . . . . . . St. John’s University, the all men’s counterpart, is just down the road.  Classes are held for both populations on both campuses so she’s not missing out on all of the fun of college life!  She will be home for three weeks at Christmas which we are all excited about as we haven’t seen her since August.  Joelle has been giving us a countdown of the number of days until Jen’s return since sometime in October….I think she really misses her big sister.

        Joelle is a seventh grader this year and doing very well in school.  She just started a French class which she seems to really enjoy.  I get to help her with math one or two nights a week.  I wish my students picked up things as quickly as she does.  She attributes her understanding to my brilliant teaching.  Who am I to disillusion her bright young mind?  She continues to play saxophone in the school band and studies piano privately.  Volleyball kept her busy this fall and she is looking forward to basketball which starts in January.  In the meantime she is snowboarding and alpine skiing.

        Jaima is a sophomore and keeps very busy between course work, activities and sports.  She sings in two auditioned groups at Summit HS, one that has a log of gigs this time of year including singing with Kenny Rogers during his broadway Christmas show that is coming to the Central Oregon Expo center this next week.  She played volleyball this fall and is currently playing basketball on the JV squad and seinging into Varsity so she is very busy with practice/games for two squads.  She has been burning the midnight oil lately producing some very creative projects for various classes and although the time commitment is incredible she seems to really enjoy the challenge and the chance to create.

        We hope the coming year blesses you with peace and joy along with health and happiness!  The Northups ~ (Art’s Marty)

Connie & Jim ~ always a pleasure to see you guys!  Hope this finds you well.  Mark got to his Christmas letters before I did as you can tell I didn’t write the letter, but it fills you in.  Hope to see you at the family reunion.  Peace & Love, The Northups 

Newsletter Greetings! from Mary Gerding . . .

I would like to tell the family that I am doing quite well considering I’ve been alone for so long.  Leo has been gone for nearly 19 years.

I now have Dick and Sandy next door to me.  For all their years in the Army, they have planned and rearranged their plans until finally ending up with their final home nearly finished!  It’s beautiful! ~ and I have them here with me.  Thank God!

Holiday Wishes to all,  Mary Gerding 

Snail Mail Greetings! from Jane Fromherz . . .

November 2003

Dear Family:

The year 2003 has seen some definite changes in my life.  In March, after 30 years of marriage, I was divorced from Darrel Tietze, and I have taken back the name Fromherz.

I sold my Scottsburg home and bought a home in Longview Washington.  I am remodeling and making a lot of changes in the décor.  Leonard and Cam came up one weekend and helped me with one bathroom.

I was working at Home Depot in Longview until the end of October when I was “RIFFED” that is Reduction In Force.  Before I had my first unemployment check, which I still haven’t received, I have two part time jobs.  I am again doing the food and product demonstrations at the Safeway Stores in the Longview-Kelso area, and I started a part time job at JCPenney yesterday.   The JCPenney job is for the holidays, but it will help pay the bills.

          Many of you know that Annella married Jeremy Ortiz in October of 2001.  They are both in the Air Force in Omaha, Nebraska.  Nellie spent a while in Saudi Arabia this year while Jeremy was in Texas at School.  They are expecting their first child in May of 2004.

          Adam got out of the Navy and is now in the Coast Guard.  He and Bekah are in Neah Bay, Washington now…the end of the earth…but there are three little munchkins living there with them.   They have little Adam, who is now 2 years old, and they were blessed with twin boys in June, their names are Ean and Ethan, and do Adam and Bekah have their hands full.  I have been able to go up and see them three times at Neah Bay, and once when the twins were born in Tacoma.

Here’s wishing you all a very Happy Holiday Season…

And let’s keep the CHRIST in CHRISTmas.

Love to all of You, Jane Art’s Jane) 

Update for NEWSLETTER FROM THE  HEART from Sister Jeanne Marie Zeugin…

October 2003

Dear Connie,

            Thank you for the newsletter reminder.  One item that I think you can use is this.

            This past year we have enjoyed out visits with Judy Fromherz while she was attending the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth here.  Judy’s dad, Art Fromherz is a first cousin of my deceased brother-in-law, Elmer Bauder.  Judy loved making contacts with her relatives here in Leavenworth.  Art and Winnie visited Judy at Thanksgiving and we were happy to meet them also.

            Good luck with the newsletter.  Sincerely, Sister Jeanne Marie 

Sister Jeanne Marie Zeugin

Mother House

4200 S 4th St.

Leavenworth, KS 66048-5054

Invitation from the Zollner & Gross Families announcing Florence’s 90th Birthday Celebration!

Florence Gross is 90 Years Young!

Come celebrate her Birthday at a Garden Party Sing-a-long with family & friends!

Sunday, October 19, 2003

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