Record Roundup

A trip to Richland, Wash., to watch my stepson Steven play basketball last week provided me with one of those pivotal moments in life that you hear about on the Oprah Winfrey Show. I like it when people say, "Everything in life happens for a reason." It reminds me that, no matter how often I set the stage for how I think events will happen, most often the outcome is not what Renee had planned. Two years ago, I would never have expected to be invited to stay at the home of my ex-husband's ex-ex-wife in Washington to visit with my stepson, Steven Severin. Talk about comical. I was invited by Steven's mom, Deb Severin, to do exactly that, visit with Steven and have the chance to watch one of his basketball games. My visit with the two of them was extraordinary and more fun than I could ever have imagined. In this day of extended families, it seems the thread (or sometimes rope) that binds people together is the children that we share as the outcome. In the process of doing "what is best for the children," I have had the good fortune to have a very unexpected and powerful new relationship develop in my life. I would like to thank Deb and Steven for including me in their life in such a special way. I would like to tell you that I missed Chuck while I was gone but, within hours of being sprung from jail and returning home, he fetched a dead deer carcass from the woods and plopped it on the doorstep. Naturally, I had second thoughts. The red, white and blue of the American flag lined Main Street early on Monday morning. It was Presidents' Day and a big thank-you goes to the VFW Post 2003 for putting flags out by 7 a.m. in the freezing cold. Harry Green, Herb Lyman and Ken Rolph were the ones who made sure that our town was appropriately decorated for the day. At this time last year, I went to Camp 20 Coffee House to write about our local chapter of the Red Hat Society, the Camp 20 Courtesans of the Red Hat Society. It was my first introduction to these wild and crazy ladies dressed in bright purple and red, and flaunting hats with roses and bows. I remember wondering what it was that this group did in such attire. It was revealed to me during my interview with the ladies that they gathered once a month for no other reason than to have fun. What a novel concept! I immediately asked if I could join. On Tuesday, I celebrated the ladies' third anniversary at Camp 20 Coffee House. Queen Mum Rita Owens and her walking partner Val Sussek organized the group, beginning with about 13 women. "The whole purpose of this group is to have fun. There is no official anything," said Shirley O' Grady-French. The group has grown to 27 members today and the fun just keeps on going. Marlene Martin-Betts attended her first meeting on Tuesday and had this to say, "Until recently, I have been busy taking care of my mom and I really enjoyed this." When Virginia Right moved to Colfax, she found a way to meet people by joining the Red Hat Society. "I think it's lovely. I have met a lot of people I wouldn't have met otherwise," said Virginia. As for me, I love this group of ladies and I still haven't gotten over the fact that we meet for no other reason than to have a good time so I guess I'll keep doing just that! Hear ye, hear ye, the second annual Eden Valley Chili Cook off is coming up on March 4. This is an opportunity to get out your crock-pot and show off your famous Aunt Mabel's chili recipe and have an evening of fun. Last year's first-place winner was Diane Rauh, and she claims her winning recipe was the result of not having any beans in her chili. "I think it put my recipe over the top," said Diane. "It was really good. I have to say so myself." This year, Diane plans to be a judge and encourages everyone to enter the contest. A $6 ticket includes chili, salad, cornbread, a drink and dessert. There will be a bluegrass trio playing music while you sample the entries and decide which chili is the winner. The evening begins at 6 p.m. and prizes will be given when the crowd makes a decision on this year's favorite. The more entries the better, so if you are interested, call Gerry Rawson at 725-1188 and give us a chance to judge your chili. The family that runs together, well, runs together. Like the five members of the Kutzman family of Weimar who recently completed the San Diego Half Marathon together. Mike Kutzman is an attorney in Auburn and his wife, Joanne Kutzman, opened the Montessori School in Auburn in 1979. They have lived in Weimar since 1989 and their three children have attended Colfax High School. In November 2005, they began training for January's marathon. Joining 6,000 other runners were Mike; Mike's son, Blair Kutzman; 24, a computer engineer with Hewlett Packard in San Diego; Blair's wife, Misha Kutzman, a math teacher and surf coach at La Jolla Country Day School; Mike's daughter, Morgan Kutzman, 21, a pre-med student at the University of San Diego; and Daley Kutzman, 18, a Colfax High student and longtime runner. Mike is the marathon master, having run 35 former marathons including the San Diego Half Marathon and he said, "We all did remarkably well." Joanne does not run with the family. Instead, she is the self-proclaimed "jacket holder" and spends her time cheering the family on. "It's a good marathon to run because, if you get tired, you can always walk and enjoy the scenery of multi-million dollar homes overlooking the ocean," said Mike. Congratulations to the Kutzmans for all completing the marathon and having a great time as a family. In the Feb. 9 Record Roundup, I wrote a snippet about Donald "Pal" Ballenger and I need to make a correction. Donald's parents, Simpson C. Ballenger and Ruth Ballenger, moved to Colfax in 1932 with their two sons, Robert Ballenger and Richard Ballenger, who were born in San Francisco. Their third son, Donald, was born in Colfax in 1935. Don't forget, Girl Scout cookies go on sale this Saturday in front of the Holiday Market in Meadow Vista from 3 to 5 p.m. To submit Record Roundup items to Renee Curtis, call her at 346-2232, e-mail rcurtis@foothill.net or fax to 346-2700.