Wednesday, January 16, 2019

He saw it, he said, but he didn’t know what he had seen until years later. And boy, was he surprised.

It was about 4 p.m. the afternoon of Dec. 12, 1980 when Fuzzy Hennigan of Marthaville was in Beverly Hills, CA sitting at a traffic signal on Rodeo Drive. That was some 38 years ago.

Fuzzy was six months into his current profession as a Manufacturing Representative to the discount store industry. He was riding in a taxi with the owner of the agency he worked for, Kent Jenkins of Rogers, AR.

While they were stopped at the traffic light, all of a sudden the taxi driver shouted, “LOOK!”

Fuzzy said on the opposite side of Rodeo Dr. headed in the other direction was a limousine.

“The limo didn’t get our attention,” he related, “but what did was this streaker.” You’ll recall that streaking was a popular thing back then.

He continued, “This streaker got out on the passenger side, came around the front in her birthday suit, then down the side of the limo, across the back and then back into the limo in the blink of an eye. I wish I could have seen more, because it was from the back and it was just a glimpse of other beautiful areas and blonde hair, and she was gone.”

“If we had had social media back then, with cameras and cell phones, we might have been able to find out who it was,” Hennigan laughed.

“Rumors abounded for weeks,” Fuzzy recalled. “But not until the streaker told that same story on the Johnny Carson Show one night did the world and I learn it was someone who is still on my bucket list to see up close and personal. At the time, this awesome, very talented lady was in Hollywood filming a movie.”

As it turned out, the streaker was none other than Dolly Parton.

She was in Hollywood to film “9 to 5.” According to reports, she had lost a bet to a friend, and that was the payoff. Another report said someone simply dared her to do it, and she did.

Sky watchers will have a chance to take a look at a total lunar eclipse, a super blood moon and “A Wolf Moon.” It is all called “a Super Blood Wolf Moon,” and it will be visible across North America overnight on Jan. 20 into Jan. 21. For a few hours, the moon will give off a bright reddish glow.

A total lunar eclipse can happen only when the sun, earth and moon are perfectly lined up – anything less is a partial eclipse. There will not be another total lunar eclipse until May 2021.

This total lunar eclipse will last about an hour and the main viewing time will kick off around 10:40 p.m. Central Standard Time (CST) on Jan. 20. The entire eclipse process will begin about 8:30 p.m. that night, peak at around 11:15 p.m. CST, and end at about 2 a.m. on Jan. 21.

Lessons Along Life’s Highway

Bo Stewart, our good friend from Florien, said he learned this the hard way: “Never take a sleeping pill and laxative on the same night.”

Signs Along Life’s Highway

They’re NOW OPEN – Double D’s Burgers & More at 2445 Obrie St. in Zwolle. The business is being operated by Dewayne Martinez and my daughter Amber. They’ve been working hard and folks in the area have been anticipating its opening.

So drop by today and welcome them to Zwolle, enjoy some good food, and pass the word along that they are open. For pick-up orders, call 645-8033. Their hours are Tuesday – Sunday, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

We’ve got our heart set on some of those homemade onion rings.

Congratulations to Susan Giblin on being named Funeral Director of the Year for the North District of the Louisiana Funeral Directors Association. She owns Warren Meadows Funeral Home in Many along with daughter Amy Giblin Barnhill.
The funeral home has been around a long time, first being Massengill Funeral Home, then Warren Funeral Home and finally Warren Meadows Funeral Home when he purchased in the early to mid-1960s.
Susan and her husband, the late Floyd Giblin, took over operation of the funeral home in the fall of 1977 when her father retired. Floyd died about a year ago.
Today Susan and her daughter Amy are owners of the business.
“We are very honored that my mom received this honor,” Amy told Observations. “She grew up in the business, a profession she has served for something like 60 years.”

We love Josh Crow who has Josh Crow Physical Therapy and Toledo Fitness on Hwy. 191 near Toledo Bend Lake. He said December was a great month with more than 40 new customers signing up to become members at Toledo Fitness. It’s a mighty fine place, and we recommend it very highly.

Don’t forget! The second annual fundraiser for the Sabine Parish Animal Shelter will be held at the Many Community Center this Saturday, Jan. 19.
Movie goers will be treated to the classic film “Old Yeller.” There is no admission charge, but everyone is encouraged to give generous donations to help the dogs, cats, and other animals at the animal shelter.

The box office will open at 6:15 p.m. and “Ole Yeller” plays at 7 p.m.
Everyone is encouraged not only to give a monetary donation, but to also bring blankets, towels, dog and cat beds, cleaning supplies, treats, food, and any of the various items the Shelter uses to care for the many animals they save each year.

This is the second year for the animal shelter fundraiser.

Jackie Conyer, president of the Sabine Humane Society which operates the shelter, said the shelter staff, volunteers, and members of the Humane Society all work hard to care for the animals at the shelter and to find good homes for them.

“It’s a really hard job, and we deeply appreciate all the support and help we can get in order to help these unfortunate animals,” Conyer said.

She urged members of the community to come out, support the Humane Society and the animal shelter, and enjoy a beautiful, classic movie at the same time.

“Old Yeller,” the first Walt Disney movie about animals, is the story of a stray dog that shows up and hangs around with a farm family after the Civil War. A real tearjerker, it has become a classic movie about the love between a boy and his faithful dog. It was filmed in 1957, and is a classic movie everyone in the family will love.

The fundraiser and movie are sponsored by the Town of Many Cultural District Advisory Committee, the Town of Many and Many Mayor Ken Freeman.

Speaking of movies, Movies in Many has announced their upcoming schedule for January through June of this year.

The free film series, sponsored by the Town of Many, the Cultural District Advisory Committee, and Mayor Ken Freeman, began four years ago as part of an effort to provide affordable entertainment, events and activities for residents of Many and surrounding areas.

The movies, which are free to all and show on the first and third Saturdays of every month, have been a big success. Mayor Freeman said more and more people are attending and enjoying the movies which are offered at the Many Community Center on San Antonio Ave. in the heart of the Cultural District.

“We renovated the historic old Sabine Theatre which had been closed since around 1989, and [as the Many Community Center] it’s now a venue for movies, plays, dance recitals, talent contests, music concerts and many other activities,” said Mayor Freeman.

The movies are especially popular because they offer family entertainment at a fraction of the cost of seeing a movie in a commercial movie theater. Because admission is free and popcorn and soft drinks are only $1 each, a family of five can see a first-class movie, enjoy popcorn and soft drinks for everyone, and spend only $10.

An effort is made to show a variety of movies: most of them PG-13, PG, or G-rated. Only one R-rated film has been shown; that’s because the Cultural District Advisory Committee and Mayor Freeman determined the film’s merit outweighed its rating. The movie was “Hacksaw Ridge,” and it was shown as a tribute to veterans during a special Veterans Day movie and program one year.

Movies for the first six months of 2019 were chosen from recommendations made by area residents. They include a wide mix of westerns, classics, musicals, animated movies, Disney movies, and action/adventure films. All movies will begin at 7 p.m.

As we mentioned earlier, the movie showing this Saturday, Jan. 19 is “Old Yeller,” a classic about a boy and his dog. It is offered as a fundraising event for the Sabine Parish Animal Shelter. The movie will be shown free of charge, as always, but on this night donations to the Shelter are encouraged.

February movies will be “Annie, the Musical” on Feb. 2 and “Beauty and the Beast” on Feb. 16. Both movies were requested by area residents.

The month of March will bring “Mary Poppins” to the screen on March 2. (This is the original film starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke.) The popular, current “Mary Poppins Returns,” now playing nationwide will be offered at Movies in Many this summer or fall. Also showing in March is “The Greatest Showman” starring Hugh Jackman. This popular 2018 movie about circus master and showman P.T Barnum will be the feature film on March 16.

John Wayne movies are always big hits with area theater goers, so “Rooster Cogburn,” considered one of the actor’s finest films, will play on April 6. John Wayne movies are always popular and are often requested.

April brings the annual Easter Party and free movie celebration for Many and Sabine Parish children. This year’s party is Saturday, April 20, the day before Easter. Children will meet the Easter Bunny, enjoy special treats and watch “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.”

“The Shack” will show on May 4 and is sure to inspire attendees with its uplifting message. May is also the month to celebrate Memorial Day. The Academy Award-winning “Pearl Harbor” will be featured on May 18, and a short ceremony beforehand will recognize all veterans and their families who are in attendance.

June kicks off the summer schedule of Movies in Many with “Creed 2,” the latest in the Rocky Balboa movie series. It will show on June 1. The second film of the month is “Dirty Dancing,” a popular love story starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey that features lots of dancing and music. It will be shown on June 15.

Mary Brocato, chairperson of the Many Cultural District Advisory Committee, stressed that every movie on the schedule was selected from recommendations from the public.

“We want to show movies that people want to see,” Brocato said. “So these movies are all what various people have told us they want. We hope that our people will support Movies in Many and enjoy free entertainment by attending our movies that offer something for everyone.”

Hard to believe we are halfway through the month of January already. Please remember I love to hear your ideas and suggestions for future articles. Call me at (318) 332-8653 or email me at robertrgentry@gmail.com. Recently archived “Observations” can be found below. Older ones are archived on our Facebook page under Photos, where they are listed by date in albums. To print this week’s column, right-click anywhere on the content and select “Print.”

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