Emily Stubblefield solar eclipse

The Sacred Heart of Jesus Men's Club May meeting hosted our guest speaker Emily Stubblefield, Quachita Park Ranger, who gave a very interesting and educational presentation on a major solar event which will occur in our area next spring.  HSV will be in the total blackout path of a solar eclipse lasting over 4 minutes in the early afternoon of Monday April 8, 2024.  This is a once-in-a-lifetime event for soutwest & central Arkansas.  A solar eclipse is when the path of the moon is directly between you and the sun at the proper distance to totally block the sun's light therefore creating night in the middle of the day.  If you have a open 360 degree view from the middle of a lake or mountain top and the weather is clear you will experience a 360 degree sunset and sunrise.  How cool is that!  It is expected that the Hot Springs area will exeprience an influx of tourism from people chasing the eclipse's path through the state of Arkansas.

Tom Heffer and Matt Lewarn talk Village golf

Our program at the March 14, 2023 meeting featured Tom Heffer, HSV Director of Golf, and Matt Lewarn, Tournament  and Outside Sales Manager.  After enjoying Melinda's delicious chicken dumpling soup served with rolls and a large cookie, Rick Martinek, Program Director, introduced Tom and Matt to the group who brought us up  to date on what the course maintenance crews have been doing this winter to prepare for the 2023 season and how the outside sales of stay-and-play golf packages support revenue growth for the Village.  Tom shared some before & after pictures of reworked sand bunkers on Granada using a new liner process which can be mixed and spread by in-house crews thus reducing overall conversion costs.  The liners are solid but semi porous material which seal rocks below the liner but allows water to drain through the liner.  Bunkers are then refilled with clean sand (no rocks).  This new process should reduce rocks from working their way up out of the soil when the bunkers flood due to heavy rains.  Matt reported on the financial results achieved since the golf package program was instituted to increase annual rounds of golf with outside guests who pay top dollar green fees.  These higher value golf rounds help hold down the property owner costs to play golf on our wonderful courses.

Zack Sykora HSVFD

Zack Sykora, HSV Fire Department, spoke to the Men's Club at the February 2023 meeting concerning the organization, training and orperation of the Village Fire Department.  He was accompanied by 3 fellow firemen who brought their ladder truck so that all could get an up close experience with that piece of equipment.  The Village is served by 4 fire stations with Cortez being the main station.  The department responds to local structure fires, vehicle accidents and rescues inside the Village and assists as needed in the surrounding communities.

Members of the Men's Club assisted in serving the parish Christmas Day Dinner prepared by Chef Johnna.  About 100 parishioners enjoyed a noon meal of pork loin, mashed potatoes, cornbread casserole, carrots and rolls.  Fr. Bill provided a choice of peppermint or egg nog ice cream for dessert. 

2022 Parish Life Christmas Dinner

Those serving (l to r) are Ed and Cindy Hagen, Chef Johnna, David Banaszynski, Gil Duran and Mike Passaglia.  The refreshment center was manned by Steve Schramer and the overall coordinator was Debbie Passaglia.

The SHJ Nativity Manger Scene was setup by the Men's Club on the 4th Sunday of Advent on the lawn facing  the Balearic & Fresno intersection.  Thanks go out to Ray Ambrozich, Russ Harrison, Bob Montgomery, Bruce Rhodea, Jim Stevens and Dave Witchger for helping with this annual project.

2022 Manger Setup

Pictured are (l to r) Bruce Rhodea, Dave Witchger and Bob Montgomery.

At the Men's Club Dec 5th officers meeting the following charitable donations were approved for disbursement:

Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School - $1500
St. John's Catholic School - $1500
Jackson House - $1500
Samaritan Ministries - $1500

Tammy Jones at Jackson House

Tammy Jones, Assistant Director for Jackson House in Hot Springs, accepting a $1500 gift from Russ Harrison, Men's Club Secretary.  Ms. Jones shared that this amount is multiplied by a factor of 4 when used to obtain food from local food banks which is then used to support the free lunch programs and food assistance within the community.  Rick Martinek presenting to Samaritan Ministries and St. John's School.

Chuck and Jan Laggen of Samaritan Ministries

Mary Jane of St. Johns School

Mike Kerwin bring in the load

On Tuesday December 6, 2022 Men's Club members met at Project Hope Food Bank in Hot Springs and loaded 7 vehicles and a trailor with cases of food and delivered it to the Upper Hall at SHJ to be used to fill 46 large boxes for delivery to families in the Fountain Lake, Jessiville and Mountain Pine school districts at Christmas.  Pictured (l to r) front row:  Fred Rohrer, Bob Bowman, Bruce Rhodea and Russ Harrison.  Back row: Mike Franz, Dave Witchger, Mike Webster, Mike Kerwin, Tom Haessly, Reb Heney and Dave Banaszynski.  Not pictured are Rick Martinek, Ron Greiner and Gerald Krawczynski.  Thanks also goes out to Marvin and Lucy Young who setup the food signs and directed traffic along with the assistance of Sheila Harrison.

Project Hope Crew