The YMCA Coastal Club met at the Y on Tuesday, October 23 at 10:30 a.m. and President June Hathaway opened the meeting and greeted a large number of members and friends. Viv Daniels, at the piano, led us in some rousing songs, followed by the pledge to the flag.

Chaplain Mary Jo Zimmerli, since there was to be a musical program, gave us some interesting stories on some great hymns and hymn writers. "Amazing Grace," written by John Newton who was a slave trader, and who "repented" at what had been his "horrible trade" in transporting slaves, and penned the words to the well-known hymn. The opening lines were originally, "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a WORM like me." Later, others changed it to "wretch." She spoke of Charles Wesley, who wrote over 6,500 hymns - sung not by Methodists alone, but by almost all denominations. She gave many other interesting stories.

June then introduced pianist Kay Brown, who always pays us a visit before she leaves the area to play piano in places almost "'round the world." (Just Florida this year, I understand.) As always, she was terrific, both in her playing and in her great stories about the Boothbay area. She graciously had asked me to accompany her on drums and we had a great time together on several pieces. She kept us spellbound with her stories and playing and we purposely let her "go on" until almost noon. What a great day.

If you want to get in on some really great time, come on and join us on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. at the Y. Coming up we will have (this past Tuesday you missed a great Halloween party) on November 6, Chip Griffin on Rebuilding Together; November 13, Mary Miller and Friends; November 20, Pastor Lisa Burger on Thanksgiving; November 27, Life Line with Barbara Bloomgren; December 4, Save Passage; and for the last meeting of the year, our Christmas luncheon. Hope to see you.