Spindle items
JESSICA FINCH Associate Editor

• WAITING - Going through the process of looking for a new apartment and making appointments to show mine, I have learned the frustration of waiting. On Saturday neither of my two appointments showed up. No phone calls either to say such. So I sat and waited and waited. Thirty minutes after the second appointment was to take place I called the phone number and talked to the girls' mother - a bit awkward. She said they decided not to come look. I wish they would have told me. Needless to say I was mad. The lack of common courtesy stuck in my head for the remainder of the day.

Then on Sunday morning I went to church with my family, and as life would have it, the topic of the sermon was - waiting. The pastor spoke of patience and the value of time. She read the poem, "To Realize," which I actually have taped to my computer monitor. The short poem explains the value of time, going from 10 years to a millisecond. The reason I have it at work is one of the sentences reads, "To realize the value of a week, ask an editor of a weekly newspaper."

A lot can happen in a week, I have learned that time and time again. Maybe within the week someone will tour my apartment and decide to rent it. Maybe not. But I just hope that if they change their minds about coming that they let me know.

Time is a precious gift - one I don't think we get enough of - and we should appreciate what we do get.

• YOUTH VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - The Amherst Youth Board, located in the Harlem Road Community Center, 4255 Harlem Road, is seeking volunteers to assist in after-school child-care programs. Students, retired seniors and others willing to participate are needed to help with homework, crafts, games and general supervision of children ages 5-11. Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age and meet other eligibility requirements.

Individuals are also sought to assist with office tasks related to the Warm Clothing Project, which provides new winter clothing items to children in need.

Special event volunteers are needed to help plan events such as the Amherst Dusk to Dawn Relay Challenge and the Amherst Golf Classic, as well as perform tasks during these events. Assistance is needed with various cleaning tasks for the Family Room program, serving young children from infancy to age 5. Also, volunteers possessing office/clerical skills are being sought for help with short-term projects, general errand assistance, telephoning, mass mailings and data entry.

For further information, contact Antonella Covelli, director of volunteers at 631-7210.

• TAKING CHARGE - Master Khechen School of Tae Kwon Do will hold a Bully Buster seminar on Saturday, Sept. 22 at each of its four locations, including 1630 Hopkins Road, Amherst. The seminar will teach students how to avoid confrontation, walk away from trouble, show courage and assertiveness, keep a safe zone and defend themselves if necessary. The program will be divided into three time frames: all 5- to 7-year-old participants at 1 p.m.; a special presentation at 2 p.m. and participants 8 years and older at 2:30 p.m. For more information or to sign up for the seminar, call 688-8878.