SENIOR TIMES MARCH 2026

GOLDEN NUGGETS

Our theme for March is “In your Easter Bonnet”

This is a nostalgic trip back to the time when wearing an Easter hat was special.  It made you feel all dressed up complete in a new dress, shoes and gloves.  Pastel ribbons, flowers, polka dots and maybe a cute little bunny or chick would accent this female accessory.  Gentleman would wear special top hats.  Proudly with your family you would join a crowd of others attending church and marching in an Easter parade.  It was one of the best highlights of Spring.  Often judged in a contest, designing a homemade Easter bonnet was an extraordinary way to show off talent and craftiness.  It allowed someone to express joy for the season.  Today, Easter bonnets seem to be a fad of the past.  However, there is an everlasting “hat” that we can obtain.  In the Bible it states, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. “ James 1:12. There it is! A bonnet that never fades or goes out of style.  An eternal headpiece that is unique to everyone.  It is perfectly designed by God and it NEVER goes out of style……An Easter Bonnet For The Ages.

Brain Teaser

(answer at end of newsletter)

A teacher writes six words on a board: “cat dog has max dim tag.” She gives three students, Albert, Bernard and Cheryl each a piece of paper with one letter from one of the words. Then she asks, “Albert, do you know the word?” Albert immediately replies yes because he has a vowel that appeared only once in all the words. She asks, “Bernard, do you know the word?” He thinks for a moment and replies, “Yes.” Because his letter is either t, g, h or s. Then, she asks Cheryl the same question. She thinks and then replies “Yes” because she has the remaining unique letter.

What is the word?

Who’d A Thunk

The smoke detector became an essential safety device in houses during the 1960s when home versions became available. It was designed to detect smoke and alert occupants to fire hazards, significantly improving home safety. This gadget saved countless lives by providing early warnings of fires. Its adoption became widespread, making it a standard feature in residential buildings.

GRANDMA’S COOKING CORNER

Spotted Dog

(Irish Soda Bread with Raisins, CRAISINS and/or currants)

Ingredients:

 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour 

1 cup oat flour

1 Tbsp sugar 

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 cups buttermilk (possibly a little bit more)

1 large egg

1 cup mixed raisins, cransins and/or currants

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Whisk the flour, salt, soda, sugar and fruit together in a large mixing bowl or use a mixer.  Whisk the egg and buttermilk together in a separate bowl or cup. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the buttermilk/egg mixture. Gradually mix, add a bit more buttermilk if your dough seems too dry. The dough will have a very rough shaggy texture to it. Transfer the dough to a floured surface and bring it together with floured hands. Form into a round disk, about 1 1/2-2 inches thick. Transfer to your baking sheet and cut a deep cross in the top with a sharp knife. Put the pan in the oven and immediately turn the temperature down to 400F. Bake for about 40 minutes, or until golden brown. It should sound hollow when you rap the bottom. Cool for a few minutes, but then enjoy it while it is still warm, with some butter!

Spotted dog, like all soda bread, is best eaten the same day. But leftovers can be wrapped in plastic and kept on the counter for a couple of days. Spotted dog can also be frozen: let it cool completely before wrapping in plastic and then in foil to prevent freezer burn.

REMEMBER WHEN

Elvis Presley made his first television appearance on March 3, 1955, on the Louisiana Hayride, a regional show broadcast from Shreveport, Louisiana.  This marked the beginning of his journey in the entertainment industry, although it was not his first national television appearance, which came later on January 28, 1956, on the Dorsey Brothers “Stage Show”.  His debut on the Louisiana Hayride was significant as it introduced him to a local audience, while his national debut on “Stage Show” launched him into superstardom.

	Gratitude and observing others' good deeds can inspire us. Volunteering and giving to others can boost our sense of meaning and purpose. Can you help to bring a smile to someone’s face? CALL US TODAY!    954-666-2040

info@theseniornetwork.org

Grandpa’s Sports Stories

The 1956 Grand National was the 110th renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 24 March 1956.  It is probably best remembered for Devon Loch's sudden and inexplicable fall on the final straight, just 40 yards from a certain victory. The incident is almost always replayed during television build-up coverage on Grand National day.  Owned by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and ridden by Dick Francis, the well-fancied Devon Loch held a five-length lead over his nearest challenger, E.S.B., on the run-in to the finishing post, when he suddenly half-jumped into the air and landed in a bellyflop on his stomach, allowing E.S.B. to overtake and win. Although Francis tried to cajole the horse, it was unable to continue.

Humor Me

The world's leading expert on European wasps walks into a record shop. He asks the assistant, “Do you have European Vespidae Acoustics Volume 2? I believe it was released this week.” The assistant checks the computer and then says, “Certainly. Would you like to listen before you buy it?” The expert replies, “Of course!” The assistant hands him a pair of earphones and puts the record on a turntable near the counter, and turns it on. The expert listens for a few moments and says to the assistant, “I'm terribly sorry, but I am the world's leading expert on European wasps and this is not accurate at all. I don't recognize any of those sounds. Are you sure this is the correct recording?” The assistant checks the turntable. “Yes, sir,” he says. “This is the European Vespidae Acoustics Volume 2. Let me skip ahead to the second track.” Again the expert listens for a few moments and then says to the assistant, “This just can't be right! I've been an expert in this field for 43 years and I still don't recognize any of these sounds.” The assistant apologizes and lifts the needle to the next track. As soon as the track starts playing, the expert throws off the headphones. “This is outrageous false advertising! I am the world's leading expert on European wasps and no European wasp has ever made a sound like the ones on this record!” The manager of the shop overhears the commotion and walks over. “What seems to be the problem, sir?” The expert turns to him, red-faced and fuming. “This is an outrage! I am the world's leading expert on European wasps. Nobody knows more about them than I do. There is no way that the sounds on that record were made by European wasps!” The manager glances down and notices the problem instantly. “I'm terribly sorry, sir. It appears we've been playing you the bee side.”

Non Profit of the Month

CARE (Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, formerly Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe) is a major international humanitarian agency delivering emergency relief and long-term international development projects. Founded in 1945, CARE is nonsectarian, impartial, and non-governmental. It is one of the largest and oldest humanitarian aid organizations focused on fighting global poverty. In 2019, CARE reported working in 104 countries, supporting 1,349 poverty-fighting projects and humanitarian aid projects, and reaching over 92.3 million people directly and 433.3 million people indirectly. CARE's programs in the developing world address a broad range of topics including emergency response, food security, water and sanitation, economic development, climate change, agriculture, education, and health. CARE also advocates at the local, national, and international levels for policy change and the rights of poor people. Within each of these areas, CARE focuses on empowering and meeting the needs of women and girls and promoting gender equality. CARE International is a confederation of eighteen CARE national members, each of which is registered as an autonomous non-profit non-governmental organization in its own country, two candidate members and one affiliate member.

SENIOR OF THE MONTH 

March 2026

MICHAEL POLLARD

The seventh child born to Linwood and Bettie Pollard over sixty years ago, Michael grew up in the southeast side of Raleigh, North Carolina in the projects known as Walnut Terrace.

The sixties were tough as segregation was in the forefront.

In the Eighties, Michael married Delores and they proceeded to raise a family – two girls and one boy.

Michael developed a talent for keeping peace and became a security officer. He started his own business and currently provides security for ECPI University in Raleigh. He has also been available for The Senior Network at the Candy Cane Stroll at Triangle Town Center in December.

More of Michael’s story can be found in the blog section of our website.

MILITARY SALUTE

On the night of 23 March, the 21st Army Group crossed the Rhine River. It was a colossal amphibious operation involving more than 1.25 million soldiers, a 5,000-gun artillery barrage, and a sustained period of aerial bombardment. There was only limited German resistance, and the operation was a complete success. As Allied forces moved into the heart of Germany, securing victory was now only a matter of time.

theseniornetwork.org

Answer to Brain Teaser

Dog. Albert knows right away because he has one of the unique letters that only appear once in all the words: c o h s x i. So, we know the word is not “tag.” All of these unique letters appear in different words, except for “h” and “s” in “has,” and Bernard can figure out what the word is from the unique letters that are left: t, g, h, s. This eliminates “max” and “dim.” Cheryl can then narrow it down the same way. Because there is only one unique letter left, the letter “d,” the word must be “dog.”