“Just Chillin’ A little History...& More August Gold and Treasures by Ellie Schmidt ~ eschmidtty@sbcglobal.net


Santa Rosa, CA. ~ Happy 90th Birthday, August 14th, Russell Baker! Enriching the New York Times for 36 years with his trea- sured “Observer” column, 1962 to 1998, Baker has two Pulitzer Prizes and is a Fellow of the Ameri- can Academy of Arts and Sciences. In- sightful, down- to-earth style sparkles with his subtle humor. Author of about two dozen books, he also played host to Masterpiece The- atre for ten years, a task he claimed was difficult because he never felt “debo- naire” enough, or “suave,” amus- ingly comparing himself to his shrewd,


highly sophisticated


predecessor, Alistair Cooke. – If you enjoy great writing, and by chance have not discovered his tender-hearted, sharp, witty autobiography, “Growing Up,” you are in for a treat—a great summer “read.” Baker calls Au- gust the “silly season,” prob- ably convinced that the wind up of summertime casts a spell of wistfulness about warm weather holiday fun that cannot last. In keeping with the “silly” notion, here’s another “golden


oldie” from an ancient, incorri- gible journalist pal of mine. He claims it’s sage advice from a 101 year old woman: “A Recipe for Longevity and


100 nieces and nephews, Lavilla Mushatt Watson, wrote a biogra- phy about her, “Susannah ~ Our Incredible 114-Year- Old


coming


Aunt.” Over- enormous


obstacles, Susan- nah Jones eventu- ally worked as an Adjunct Professor in Social Work at both Adelphi and Columbia Uni- versities.


Gary Ed-


ward “Garri- son” Keillor celebrates his


73rd birthday on Au- Cure-All ~For better digestion, drink beer.


For appetite loss, drink white wine. For low blood pres- sure, drink red wine. For high blood pressure, drink scotch. For a cold, drink Schnapps. When to drink water? “No… never that sick!” A true golden oldie at 116, is Susannah Mushatt Jones of


Brooklyn,


NY, now in the Guinness World Records. Remarkable woman, the last surviving child of ten children born to Ala- bama sharecroppers. One of her


gust 7th! His mellow, distinc- tive deep voice, is heard as the very popular “host” of “A Prairie Home Companion,” a radio show that often reveals more than we might wish to know about his funny, fictional town


of Lake


Wobegon, set in Minnesota. A Robert Altman di- rected film using


Keillor’s screenplay came out in 2006. An impressive cast took part in presenting his stories of “the heart of America.” –Opening an in- dependent bookstore “Com- mon Good Books, G. Keillor,


... continued on page 30


UPBEAT TIMES • August 2015 • 5


202 West 7th St. Santa Rosa, CA 95401 707-545-7528


He who has imagination without learning has wings but no feet. ~Joseph Joubert UPBEAT TIMES • August 2015 • 5


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