Where did August go? Here it is with September knocking on the door. Before long it will be Halloween, then Thanksgiving, and then Christmas shopping begins.

How did Labor Day begin? In 1882, Peter McGuire, founder of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters suggested a national holiday to honor the country's working people. In that same year the first Labor Day Parade was held in New York City.

In 1887 President Grover Cleveland made Labor Day a legal holiday on the first Monday in September. That is the origin of this upcoming day. The big department stores are closed and there is no U.S. Mail. I read where one church observed this day with people dressing in their work attire, like the medical staffs, carpenters and utility people, etc.

Bright Hill Methodist Church is collecting stuffed animals in October to take to a charity, Gleaning for the World. This charity provides medical supplies, food and other necessary items to disaster areas and poor communities.

When they ship these basic supplies, they take a truckload of stuffed animals to comfort the children there. Call First Methodist office at 597-4961 for more information.

Congratulations to Caroline Michaels, a pretty, kind clerk at Sav-A-Lot who recently received a five-year pin for her employment at this local grocery store. She and her husband William moved to our town from New Jersey.

Our children's message at First Methodist was given by Gianna Owens and her daughter, Maria Little, last Sunday. Their subject was about helping the children overseas who have Malaria. This is a mission fund to combat this terrible disease caused by mosquitoes.

The Pentecostal Church in the Kids Connection building on the McMinnville Highway is sponsoring a consignment sale starting Sept. 1. The merchandise is ladies clothing and home décor.

Get-well wishes to Anne Morse, who recently had surgery, Laird Barnard, Lora Webb, Charmaine Mitchell and Phillip Moore. Our sympathy to the family of Kenneth Cabral who died recently.

Some humor to cheer you up: You know you're getting older when...you try to straighten out the wrinkles in your sock and you realize you're not wearing socks. You sit in a rocking chair and you can't get it started. At the breakfast table you hear a lot of snap, crackle and pop, but you aren't eating cereal. Even when you stay home, your back goes out!

Stay healthy and there's more next week. Just call me if you have news.

Amen.