Chuck's Chat - Welcome to June 2026
Well, we’ve reached the sixth month of 2026. The summer solstice will happen on Sunday, June 21, marking the astronomical first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. This occurs when the Sun travels along its northernmost path in the sky. According to almanac.com we will experience 14 hours and 44 minutes of daylight that day here along the Northern Sycamore Urban Boundary. Then we’ll begin losing a couple minutes of daylight each day until the official beginning of winter. Can’t have nothing nice…
Two weeks ago, my wife had hip replacement surgery. Under the knife at 8am, and walking down the hospital hallway at 1pm. Two days later she had cast aside the walker and was fully ambulatory on her own. One week later we attended church, and she later cleaned the inside and outside of our home’s windows. I think her progress has been nothing short of amazing, but then, anyone who knows her would expect nothing less. Why, in no time at all she’ll be able to climb the ladder and remove the branches remaining on our roof as a residual result of the April tornado activities.
During her “downtime” I had the privilege of “ubering” her around. We made a trip to Wally World, which I believe assisted her determination for faster recovery. Something about me suggesting items to acquire that were either not on the grocery list or were completely unnecessary. By the way, does anyone know why ping pong balls are offered to purchase in the paper plates aisle? Even my warped sense of humor is struggling.
And here’s another puzzling factoid. Why do some people feel the need to lean towards the center in group photos? They’re nowhere near the edge of the picture and it’s like they think they’ll be omitted. Just stand still and smile. Good grief.
The Wildcat Extension District will be hosting a couple of babysitting clinics for kids aged 12 and older. It's a great way to learn how to babysit through hands-on activities and the basics of caring for kids. The event covers first aid & CPR, nutrition, child development, and fun activities for young children. The cost is $35 dollars and kids can go home with a resource bag and a CPR certification. The first event will be in Girard on June 12th, and the second will be in Independence on June 18th from 8AM to 3PM. Contact your local extension office for more information or to enroll by June 5th.
By the way, if you haven’t had an opportunity to visit the new extension office in Independence, stop by some time. It’s a beautiful building with lots of outdoor space for future opportunities.
Until next month,
Chuck Voelker