GIVING BACK IS FULFILLING.Byline: BETTIE RENCORET Senior columnistLANCASTER - When Mary Ellen Harler retired in January after 19 years at Texas Cattle Co., it was to completely immerse herself in volunteer work. ``I really enjoy what I'm doing now and I've wanted to give back to the community some of what I feel it's given to me,'' said Harler. Her only problem, she said, is learning how to say no. There are so many volunteer opportunities that she has to choose carefully how she will divide her time. Until Tuesday's election she's volunteering at the Republican headquarters in Lancaster, manning the office phones, dispensing information and greeting visitors. In addition to that, she's a member of the Citizens Committee for the Lancaster Veterans Home, for which she had helped arrange fund-raisers while working at the Texas Cattle Co. Harler now assists Linda Dalton, fund-raising chairwoman for the veterans home committee, with other projects that will pay for furnishing all the extras needed when the home is constructed and functioning. She has been all over the world as an Air Force wife, including a few years stationed in Germany and on Guam. She worked in officers' and noncommissioned officers' clubs, and in San Bernardino San Bernardino, city, United States San Bernardino (săn bûr'nədē`nō), city (1990 pop. 164,164), seat of San Bernardino co., S Calif., at the foot of the San Bernardino Mts.; inc. 1854. she got some experience as banquet coordinator and head waitress. ``That was interesting,'' she said. ``I got acquainted with a lot of celebrities, including the Gabor sisters The Gabor sisters are three famous Hungarian actresses:
She was born Mary Ellen Williamson in Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, city (1990 pop. 109,592), seat of Washtenaw co., S Mich., on the Huron River; inc. 1851. It is a research and educational center, with a large number of government and industrial research and development firms, many in high-technology fields such as , Mich., but was raised mostly in Cleveland, where she was graduated from West Tech High School in 1951. She attended Allen Hancock College in Santa Maria Santa Maria, city, Brazil Santa Maria (sän`tə mərē`ə), city (1991 pop. 217,592), Rio Grande do Sul state, S Brazil. It is a major railroad terminus and the site of an important military base. , Calif., and later spent a year at Antelope Valley College Antelope Valley College is a comprehensive community college located in Lancaster, California, USA. It is operated by the Antelope Valley Community College District, with a primary service area of 1,945 square miles covering portions of Los Angeles and Kern counties. learning computer basics. Harler came to California in the early 1960s - to San Bernardino first and then to Lompoc in 1964. That's where she married her husband, William, on Oct. 5, 1968. They came to Lancaster to live 10 years later, when Bill was transferred by Boeing. He retired in 1992. Bill is a veteran of 12 years in the U.S. Air Force on active duty during the Korean War Korean War, conflict between Communist and non-Communist forces in Korea from June 25, 1950, to July 27, 1953. At the end of World War II, Korea was divided at the 38th parallel into Soviet (North Korean) and U.S. (South Korean) zones of occupation. . They have three surviving children, Scott, who lives in Oroville; Michael, Santa Maria; and Lori Lee, Douglasville, Ga. Another daughter, Joni, is deceased. A member of the Lutheran Church of the Master, which she serves as treasurer, Harler said she ``thoroughly believes in prayer over everything.'' It is also important to respect the beliefs of other people, she said, and ``the kinder and nicer you are, the more God can bless you.'' ``I'm dedicated to God, my home and my country, in that order,'' she said. Asked about her likes and dislikes, she answered, ``I don't like phony people and I love good movies and uplifting music.'' Menus for the week at the senior life nutrition sites in Lancaster, Palmdale and South Valley have been announced. All meals include bread, margarine and coffee, tea or milk for a suggested donation of $2. Monday: Pork chop Pork Chop An arrangement on the floor of the NYSE whereby clerks cover the booth of a floor broker and accept orders, phone calls, and associated tasks. Notes: The clerks in charge of maintaining the booths are directly compensated by the floor brokers who own them. , au gratin potatoes, spinach, tossed salad, apple juice, chocolate cake. Tuesday: Tangy tuna loaf, baked potato, peas and carrots, marinated beets, citrus cup. Wednesday: Roast beef, mashed potatoes, green beans, garden salad, pineapple juice, gelatin gelatin or animal jelly, foodstuff obtained from connective tissue (found in hoofs, bones, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage) of vertebrate animals by the action of boiling water or dilute acid. with fruit. Thursday: Orange-glazed chicken, sweet potatoes, beets, creamy coleslaw cole·slaw also cole slaw n. A salad of finely shredded raw cabbage and sometimes shredded carrots, dressed with mayonnaise or a vinaigrette. , juice, apple. Friday: Swedish meatballs, parsleyed noodles noo·dle 1 n. A narrow, ribbonlike strip of dried dough, usually made of flour, eggs, and water. [German Nudel. , Normandy vegetables, lettuce and tomato salad, tapioca pudding. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Mary Ellen Harler has been volunteering at the Republican headquarters in Lancaster, answering phones and greeting visitors. Bettie Rencoret/Special to the Daily News |
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