Special to the Times Vedette

On April 30, Wayne Nickel got a 16, Kathy Mahony got an 18, Lela Schwartz got a 16 and a 20, and Sandy Rumelhart got a 16, a 16 and a 24.

The Guthrie Center cribbage players generally meet at Guthrie Center Library on Mondays at 8 a.m., at the New Homestead independent living rec room at 8 a.m. on Wednesdays, and at the Guthrie Center Activity Center at 1 p.m. on Fridays. Organizers say there is always room for more, and they will be glad to teach you how to play. They play for quarters on Wednesday and Friday.

By Susan Thompson | Times Vedette

The newest project launched by the Panora Garden Club is a seed library. The seed library is based on the Little Free Library concept, which involves installing a wooden box in a public area so people can take a book or leave a book.  

In early April, the Panora Garden Club seed library box was placed near the northeast corner of the Panora Public Library. It was built by volunteer Steve Brannan, who also installed the library with the help of Lance Levis. Construction materials needed for the box were purchased using funds awarded last year by the Guthrie County State Bank as part of its May Day Promotion.

“We want this to be a seed exchange,” JoAnn Johnson, who co-chairs the Panora Garden Club with Paulette Chambers, says.

“The club purchased a variety of seeds to stock the library this spring,” she says. “Some horticultural catalogs and information also were added. We encourage people to take seeds and enjoy the fun of growing their own flowers and vegetables. Then we hope they will return seeds from their crop for others to use next year.” 

The seed library is established on the honor system. Users are asked to take only what they will plant, no more than one packet per variety, and up to four packets per month.

For inventory purposes, a notebook is stored in the library where users can list the seeds they take. The notebook also can be used for general comments or suggestions of seeds users would like added to the library.

Johnson says seeds can be placed inside the library at any time.

“Seeds that are no more than three years old are accepted. We do ask donors to label their seeds with variety and any other pertinent information,” she says. “To help encourage future seed donations, we plan to have a program on seed saving later this season.”

The Panora Garden Club is an all-volunteer organization that welcomes new members. The club typically meets monthly, works to beautify the City of Panora with street pots and petunia trees, and cares for the area around the library and Heritage Park. Those interested in joining can leave their contact information at the Panora library.

Special to the Times Vedette

The Guthrie County Hospital Foundation Golf Tournament will be held Tuesday, July 8 at Lake Panorama National Golf Course. This will be the 25th anniversary for the tournament. Register online at guthriecountyhospital.org/foundation by June 16. A voucher will be issued in place of a rain date. Registration will be open until the tournament sells out.

The GCH Foundation is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) and raises funds throughout the year to support several of the many needs of Guthrie County Hospital and health programs provided to the communities it serves.

By Susan Thompson | Times Vedette

For the fourth year, the Panora Garden Club is hosting a fundraising event that offers pontoon tours of Lake Panorama. This is the second year the pontoon cruise will be held in the evening.

The event is planned for Wednesday, June 18. Pontoons will begin launching at 6 p.m. at the Boulder Beach docks and leave continuously as passengers check in and pontoons are loaded.

“We will have plenty of pontoons available to handle our reservations,” JoAnn Johnson, who co-chairs the garden club with Paulette Chambers, says. “The number of passengers on each pontoon will be fewer than the stated limit, allowing for comfortable seating. We are expecting another great turnout. We’ve had inquiries from both return passengers and first-timers.”

As was done last year, the pontoon tours will last two hours, with each boat captain making one trip around the Lake.

“A two-hour cruise is a wonderful opportunity to view the beautiful scenery, landscaping and new construction on the lake,” Johnson says. “We hope guests will invite friends and family for this fun, relaxing evening.”

A member of the Panora Garden Club will be on board each pontoon to answer questions and point out highlights. Signs along the tour route will mark the gardens and landscaping of garden club members. Maps showing Lake Panorama’s cove names and garden club member homes will be distributed to each guest.

The Panora Garden Club is a 501(c)3 nonprofit charity, so donations are tax deductible. A minimum donation of $30 is required for each person who reserves a tour spot. Additional donations also are welcome. Tickets must be purchased in advance and will be available for pickup at the event table at Boulder Beach.

The garden club spends about $2,500 each year to support seasonal beautification efforts in Panora. This annual fundraiser provides the resources to purchase flowers and everything else needed to maintain the two petunia trees that hold 16 pots each, 40 street pots, and care for Heritage Park on the north side of Panora.  

Besides the lake tour, a $30 per person donation will cover a charcuterie box and bottled water. Guests are welcome to bring their own beverages. Raffle tickets for a variety of garden baskets will be available for purchase the day of the tour.

As people make reservations, they will be given a time range for their tour. 

To secure tickets, text one of these club members: Paulette Chambers, 712-304-0077; JoAnn Johnson, 515-975-9407; Paula Wachholtz, 402-699-2580; Marcia Roenfeld, 712-249-2142; Paula Hansen, 712-249-0780; Karla Bristle, 515-230-0018; and Jackie Marckres, 515-360-3202.

A rain date of Thursday, June 19, has been set. If weather prevents this event, ticket prices will be considered a donation to the Panora Garden Club. For weather details that day, check the Panora Garden Club Facebook page or visit panoragardenclub.org.

By Susan Thompson | Times Vedette

The Women’s Service Organization (WSO) annual fundraising home tour for 2025 is Friday, June 6. Five Lake Panorama locations will be featured with four on the east side of the lake and one on the west side.

Tickets are $30 and include both the tour and lunch at the Lake Panorama National Clubhouse, 5071 Clover Ridge Road. Tickets can be reserved by contacting Toni Wright at 641-757-0886. Tickets also can be purchased at the Panora Library. There will be a maximum of 260 tickets available, and organizers say they expect to sell out quickly.

WSO was formed in 1972 when women who worked together to help pass a school bond issue decided they could benefit the local community as a formal organization.

The first WSO home tour was in 1974, and is the organization’s major fundraiser. The first tour group leaves the LPN clubhouse at 9 a.m. with three additional groups leaving on the half-hour through 10:30 a.m. Each group tours three homes before returning to the LPN for lunch, followed by tours of the remaining two homes.

Participants are asked to arrive at the LPN clubhouse 20 minutes ahead of their tour time, so they can join the vehicle lineup and receive instructions and description sheets. Several vendors will be at the clubhouse so tour guests can browse and shop during their lunch break.

WSO committees work in advance to gather information for a one-page description sheet, and determine the best order and route. The route isn’t always the most direct, but is designed for safety and to accommodate the parking of many vehicles at each home. 

Money raised by this tour funds a renewable scholarship awarded to a graduating Panorama student each year, making four scholarships paid annually. Additional WSO donations go to the Panora Library, Food Pantry, Panora Garden Club, Guthrie County Historical Village, Heritage Park, Tori’s Angels, Relay for Life, Panorama prom and yearbook. Other contributions are considered as projects become apparent.