Halloween Bash

 

Last night’s Single Trees’ Halloween Bash will stand out as one of the highlights of this season. While our turnout was small, the people who came really got into the spirit of Halloween, wearing all manner of costumes, very creative and fun as well as scary.

Roger Putzler called a well-paced dance for us with plus tips and mainstream tips. We had only one square for our plus tips and two for our mainstream tips. Christina Corelli was having voice problems from allergies but did a very nice job of cueing and choosing our favorites to dance to. While there were never many in the circle it was still a lot of fun.

Our president Melba Walker was also having voice problems due to laryngitis. She was however still game to put on a good show and had a remarkable costume on. She and her sister Joy had worked tirelessly to decorate for the dance but had to undecorate the same night as the hall was rented out the next day. What a shame that Spin Cycle Squares who dance on Sundays didn’t get to admire the decorations.

Three dancers won prizes. Christina would have won but as cuer they did not place her name in the running—she was very creative and came as a salt and pepper shaker. How clever. Our president should have won too—great costume.

We were all pleased to see two couples from the Corvallis area as well as one couple from the south of us. We also had visitors from our sister club the Whirl-A-Ways. Thank you all for coming to dance with us and make our dance so fun!

 

hERE ARE  SOEM PHOTOS THAT WERE TAKEN LAST NIGHT, Oct. 25.

 

 

 

It is unknown at this time if we will have two or three dances in November.  We may once again have a 2nd, 3rd and 4th Friday dance in November.  Check out the blog in a couple f weeks to see.

Gaynor Hintz

Club Reporter

Chini Feed and Western Hoe33down Dance

On Friday, Oct. 18 Single Trees held its 3rd Friday dance with K.C. Curtis calling and Sandy Harris cueing.  K.C. always calls an excellent dance for us.  A small but enthusiastic group of dancers attended this Chili Feed and Western Hoedown themed dance.  This reporter did not attend but thanks to a fellow member Renee VanDole found out about the highlights.

 

There were  two squares in attendance with a few more dancers on the sidelines.  Three pots of chili were set out for tasting along with small bread rolls and lots of cheese, sour cream etc. to top off a bowl.  Apparently not enough votes were cast to make a determination of which pot was the best.  But thanks to those who brought them:  our president, Melba Walker, fellow member Margaret McVey and one other..

 

This coming Friday's dance will be our Halloween Bash.  What will our V.P. and Treasurer Joy Pitts come up with this year?  There will be a photo corner filled with ghosts and goblins so bring your cameras.  Roger Putzler will be calling and Sandy Harris cueing. 

 

Here are some blasts from the past Halloween dances we've had:

Halloween contest winners in 2011.

 

Winners in 2014 (can you recognize Joy?). 

The woman who couldn't6 find her little dog.

Happy dancing, everyone,

Gaynor Hintz

Club Reporter

 

Fun Night of Dancing

Fun! Fun! Fun! Our Oct. 11, 2024 dance was a barrel of fun, led by a fairly new caller Shaun McKamey in his big, black cowboy hat and our cuer Jackie Gale who had a really full round dance floor for the first time in a while. This was our first time returning to dance on the second Friday and what a way to get back to it. Shawn is now the caller for Sweet Home Squarenaders, making a come back, and the caller for Lebanon square Circlers as their long-time caller Charlotte Jaskey retired recently. Shawn while still quite new has a tremendous amount of potential. He has a fine singing voice, good stage presence, a clear voice easily heard by the dancers, and already knows how to put calls together for interest. His calling is also very well-paced. Those who missed this dance and there were many should make a note not to miss dancing to him again or take the time to go to one of the clubs to the north of us to dance. Here are two photos taken by our president Melba Walker. 

 

Shawn McKamey calling

Two squares of happy dancers

There were only two squares on the floor at that time when Melba took the photos, but we did have three squares for mainstream on occasion. Squarenaders, Corvallis squares and Lebanon really came out in force to support their new caller. We also had visitors from south of us—Cottage Grove and Roseburg dancers. We appreciated seeing them all.

Melba and her sister Joy had decorated the hall with Halloween décor, Melba encouraged everyone to return on Oct. 25 for our Halloween Bash because there will be a photo corner with lots of ghosts and goblins for a good photo op as well as good calling by Roger Putzler and cueing by Sandy Harris.

Don’t forget next week on Oct. 18 we will have K.C. Curtis from the Portland area calling and Sandy Harris cueing for a Western Hoedown and Chili Feed Dance.

Gaynor Hintz

Club Reporter

 Our fourth Friday dance was a pie and ice cream social with Mark Wheeler calling and Jackie Gale cueing in place of Christina Corelli who was under the weather.  Mark did a good job with his fine singing voice and genial personality and Jackie as always cued some great rounds for us.  We only had two squares on the floor most of the evening although I think at one time we did have three.  We had a few visitors from out of town who are always a delight to see.

Jackie Gale put on a round that our recently departed member Judy Melendrez would have loved to dance and we all stood in a big ring to remember her and say some parting words.  We will all miss her very much.

I am borrowing from our Calling Tree chair to let you all know what our October schedule has in store for us.  Lots of good dancing and callers and cuers for you all to enjoy!

 

Dancing at Emerald Square Dance Center - Sept/Oct 2024.

2095 Yolanda Springfield, OR

 

Hello Single Trees Club Members and Friends,

Here are our dances in October, plus those of other clubs dancing at this location.

 

Single Trees Club Notices:

Yearlong Ongoing Toy Donation - cuddly, stuffed animals for children in stressful situations, provided via the Sheriff.

Sept/Oct - Every Sunday     Spin Cycle Squares	Tim Matteson calling to the floor.	4-6pm SSD, MS, and Plus All Position Dancing.
Oct 11th - 2nd Fri Single Trees	Shaun McKamey  calling; Jackie Gale cueing.	7:30 Plus 7:45 Pre-Rounds 8-10 MS with Rounds;           (every 3rd tip Plus)
Oct 18th - 3rd Fri Single Trees Western Chili Feed Hoedown	KC Curtis calling; Sandy Harris cueing.	7:30 Plus 7:45 Pre-Rounds 8-10 MS with Rounds;           (every 3rd tip Plus)
Oct 19th - 3rd Sat Whirl-A-Ways	Mark Wheeler calling; Christina Corelli cueing.	7:00 Plus  7:30-10:00 MS with Rounds
Oct 25th - 4th Fri Single Trees Halloween Bash	Roger Putzler calling; Christina Corelli cueing.	7:30 Plus 7:45 Pre-Rounds 8-10 MS with Rounds;           (every 3rd tip Plus)

Pam M 

Single Trees Calling Chair

A Sad Loss for our Square Dance Community

 

In Memoriam

Judy Melendrez

March 11, 1940 to Sept. 11, 2024

We were all saddened when we learned that Judy had passed away on Sept. 11 after being diagnosed with incurable lung cancer only a few months before. We square dancers have all grown to love Judy with her happy smile and her tremendous love of dancing. Judy not only square danced, learning mainstream in 2000, plus the following year and advanced at one time, but she also took countless lessons to perfect her round dancing over the years. She supported most of the clubs that danced at the hall. She and Vonda Clayton used to go line dancing together all the time for many years.

Judy was a fairly private person so I don’t know a whole lot about her personal life only tidbits here and there. She was on Facebook so we all knew about her love of her family, her two sons and grandchildren, her late brother and two sisters—lots of family gatherings and while she rarely missed a square dance at the hall or elsewhere on visitations, if she did, it was for family. She also loved to gamble and played split the pot each and every time, waving around her winning ticket quite regularly as she was very lucky. It was my understanding that she often went to the casinos to play and hit the jackpot. Her favorite game at the club picnics was the dog race game which Joy always brought.

Judy grew up in the McKenzie Valley and attended McKenzie schools through high school. She, Betty Aukeerman, and Bill Herington (former member) all attended there but no and had a special bond because of that. After retirement from McKenzie Willamette Hospital and moving into Springfield, she began working for Selco Credit Union on Harlow and Gateway for many, many years as greeter and information guide until her health declined last spring. She only worked part-time for the credit union but enjoyed every minute, meeting and helping new people and seeing occasional square dancers come through too.

She will be missed not only by the square dance community but by all the people who met her over the years and of course her family. Farewell, Judy, our hall will never be quitte the same.

Gaynor Hintz

New Caller Dance and Sock Hop Dance

On Saturday Sept. 17 Single Trees hosted a New Caller dance for Roger Putzler’s and Daryl Clendenin’s newest caller class which was held via Zoom. Four of the seven were able to attend and call to two squares of eager dancers willing to give the new callers “mic” time. It was interesting to see who had decided they might have a vocation as a caller. As you can imagine, they were not well polished but eager to test their new skills. Some may make it given enough time. A good time was had by all as we all knew we were doing a good thing. Everyone has to start somewhere.

Ross, Diana, Chris, Dennis, Patrick, Betty, Joy and Paul H. in a square.

Same Square doing a right and left through-- only Chris and Dennis are facing the camera.

 

 

I did not attend the third Friday dance which had a Sock Hop theme with Janet Geiger calling and Jackie Gale cueing. I was told there weretwo squares on the floor and everyone enjoyed themelves.

We were all saddened to learn that our long time member Judy Melendrez had passed away on Sept. 11 having a short battle with lung cancer diagnosed last spring. The dance hall will not seem the same without her happy smile among us. I will post a separate blog with photos from the past for her.

This coming Friday will feature Mark Wheeler from Portland with Christina Corelli cueing. We all enjoy Mark’s genial nature and good singing voice. He is one of Jim Hattrick’s protegees and coming along nicely. This will be a pie and ice cream social so bring your appetites as well as your dancing shoes.

I understand beginner lessons are underway as of Sept. 8 and no longer accepting new dancers to the class although if one wants to refresh old skills, one could do so by coming on Sundays from 1 to 3PM to join Roger Putzler’s class at 2095 Yolanda in Springfield.

 

August Events

 

Single Trees had a super fun month this August. We started out the month with our annual picnic held out near Mt. Pisgah off Seavey Loop at the country property of one of our members, Suzanne Peterson. This property had been hit hard by the ice storm we had here in January but you wouldn’t know it looking at it now. It was in pristine condition as always! Thank you, Suzanne, for hosting once again.

As usual we had about 25 members and guests on hand with hamburggers and hot dogs grilled to perfection by newer member John Olson from the Medford area. We all brought side dishes and desserts to go with. We ate and talked, talked and ate, and none of us wanted to dance feeling replete and in need of a good sit down. The day was perfect—not too hot as it was overcast. There was no blueberry picking this year as the berries ripened early in July.

We had two fun-filled dances on the 3^rd and 4^th Fridays. We had lots of guests from clubs to the north of us whose clubs do not dance during the summer. We appreciate their support.

In September, we are sponsoring a new caller dance on the 14^th with several new callers or callers getting back into the game having just gone through Daryl Clendenin’s and Roger Putzler’s zoom caller class. We are excited to hear them call and get the opportunity to dance to them. On Friday, Sept. 20 we will hold our regular mainstream dance called by Janet Geiger and cued by Jackie Gale with a Sock Hop/Back To School theme. On Sept. 27, the 4^th Friday,, we will host a Pie and Ice Cream Social Dance with Mark Wheeler calling and Christina Corelli cueing. We expect to have a great time dancing and visiting with our guests. Please come join us.

Gaynor Hintz

Club Reporter