By GUY WINDHOLZ

Looking up in the dictionary, MILESTONES are defined as benchmarks and achievements and LEGACIES are the attributes of special people and the gifts they leave to those that follow. Given that combination, a small photo of Calvin could be pasted within the dictionary next to those terms.

It was standing room only in the living room at the home of Calvin E. Harbin, in a pre-celebration of his 102nd birthday for Monday. His son, Ed, and two daughters, Mary and Ruth, were joined by most of his 7 grandchildren and 10 great-grand children. Missing would be Dorothy, the love of his life for 66 years and married to in 1947 while he was in special military service for his country on seven foreign tours of duty overseas during the war. He rose rapidly in rank to the point of being a Colonel before retiring and going into the Education Field.

There is not enough space on this page to detail all those accomplishments but necessary to highlight what he and others have done to benefit the Seniors of Ellis County and which has been spread to all other parts of the state and nation.

Cal would always point out the credit to those around him that were instrumental in and on the projects he was involved in and specific to the area of Seniors. Having worked under the President of Fort Hays State College at the time of Dr. John Gustad , he became Chairman of the Division of Education 1970-1972 and Dean of Faculty of Education 1972 – 1977.

It was at this time that a new-found focus of attention was started in help for the elderly citizens of that generation and now benefiting those of our generation. This would take him to Washington D.C. in lobby for and to the attention that should be given to this population. Calvin credits the support of Senator Bob Dole and Congressman Keith Sebelius for the start of federal appropriations of funding for Senior Citizen projects. He quotes the words of Sen Dole that, “This is a good program and it will live forever.”

On the local front he name-drops his partners in this endeavor to include the other founders of the Hays Senior Center as Leora B. Stroup and Dr. William D. Moreland. With a memory as sharp as a whip, other hard working contributors included Rev . William Miller, Alice Munsch, Dr. Harry Watts an even the Courthouse jail cook, Dorothy Curl and legal guidance freely given by Hays attorney Robert Glassman.

The first Hays Senior Meal Site came from these efforts and a truly great program with headquarters at Fort Hays for a variety of counties known as the Senior Companion Program that provides for visitations by other citizens to those that are home-bound.

Many a patron of the Senior Center would not have this knowledge were it not for Board member and secretary now going on a dozen years, Millie Karlin. She kicked started a birthday card shower and a bundle of them were delivered to Calvin on Monday.

Among the treasurers of the people in Ellis County that can be found and to have had the pleasure to visit with, Calvin Harbin is an uncovered a “gem” among us.

Those wishing to send birthday greetings to Calvin can address them to 301 E. 19th, Hays, Ks 67601

Did you get to see our most recent Encore show “All Hands on Deck”? If you didn’t, you missed a wonderful show about a group of people coming together – all hands on deck – to figure out a way to accomplish two great, noble objectives at the same time instead of sacrificing one for the other. A World War II troupe of singers and dancers is on a tour selling war bonds, but suddenly they are ordered to go to Chicago for a live radio show for Armed Forces Radio.

So, abandon the local audience and the task of raising money to finance the war for the equally important mission of giving comfort to the troops fighting the war? The cast figures out a way to do both and puts on a great show at the same time.

As I was preparing to address an audience of Encore supporters before the show, I started thinking about what a beautiful metaphor “All Hands on Deck” is for how we support our students at Fort Hays State University. In fact, I recently met a student, Kattie, whose personal story is the perfect example. Kattie was confronted with the possibility of having to choose between her education and supporting her mother, but with help she also figured out how to do both.

She knew from a young age that she wanted to be an accountant. She loved numbers. Her dad owned his own business and her mom served as the county treasurer. Both inspired her, and both fueled her dream to go to college. Kattie says her parents strongly insisted she go to college because they saw so much potential in her.

Her journey started with her decision to attend Fort Hays State. Kattie said she chose FHSU because of the amazing opportunities that she knew were available within the Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship as well as the “Everybody’s Business” living and learning community. She could pursue her dream of becoming an accountant. The close-knit learning community did in fact serve to help her transition from a very small high school, make friends quickly and find study partners.

It would also provide the opportunity to travel to the Caribbean Island of St. Martin to be an intern helping start-up companies with their business plans.

Kattie said that, as a first generation student, she worked throughout high school to save for college, and our affordable rates and small class sizes were a major factor in her final decision to attend FHSU. She applied for every scholarship and grant she could, because she knew she would need help financially to complete college. She was able to secure a workstudy job on campus, and she immersed herself in her studies and in campus life. She joined Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity, Catholic Disciples and several other student organizations. Her academic efforts earned her a spot on the Deans Honor Roll.

And then the unthinkable happened – in the midst of her second semester at FHSU, her father, who was self-employed, unexpectedly passed away, leaving Kattie and her mom with funeral expenses and the loss of family income. Often at these critical junctures, people find blessings or get stuck. Kattie found blessings.
She returned home to be with her mom and to help make plans to celebrate her father’s life and to figure out, with her mom, how to move forward. She said the support she received from FHSU was incredible. Each of her professors encouraged her not to drop her classes. Some assignments were modified and deadlines extended. Professors checked in with her while she was at home. Her FHSU family sent flowers, plants, and, especially, lots of outreach. With the help of our caring faculty and staff, Kattie completed her freshman year, is still enrolled today, and is thriving.

I have to pause here to recognize the incredible courage and love of Kattie’s mother. I cannot even imagine the strength it took for Kattie’s mom to encourage her to go back to college and finish the semester. I imagine that her mom’s natural instinct in this time of great loss would be to hold on extra tight to Kattie. But she did not. Just as she and her husband insisted on Kattie going to college in the first place, her mom encouraged Kattie to move forward.

And I know that like her mom, Kattie had to dig down deep to move forward. Fortitude. Resilience. Courage. These words describe Kattie and her mom and honor Kattie’s dad.

For Kattie and all of our students – FHSU is simply an “All Hands on Deck” university! Its faculty, staff and generous donors have designed and built an institution dedicated to its students and their success, in college and in life.

In Kattie’s words: “Even before this travesty, Fort Hays State was home to me, and my relationships with the beyond-wonderful classmates, professors and people here have only grown stronger. In the few years that I still have left here to complete my degree, I am taking classes and working during the week, seeing my mother and close friends and family on the weekends. I continue to take courses until I am eligible to sit for the CPA exam, ultimately becoming an accountant practicing somewhere in Kansas. I am so very grateful to the donors of FHSU and don’t know how I could be here without them.”

I am so proud of Kattie, her mother and this community. I know Kattie will continue to thrive. I cannot wait to see her walk across the commencement stage. I will grip Kattie’s hand tightly and smile to see in her the bonds of our university, the parents who believed in her so deeply, and her beautiful story of heart and home.

We gained Pinky the cat back in the summer of 2005 when we visited a family’s farm on the 4-H tour. My son and daughter begged me to let them adopt the little white barn kitten with the pale pink ears. Although she technically belonged to my children, she continued to live with me after both kids graduated from high school and left for college. We lost her last year to illness after 12 years as our furry companion.

Almost 85 million households in the United States own at least one pet. For many people, pets are not just companions– more than 63 percent of pet owners consider their pets to be a part of the family. Dogs and cats are the most popular, but fish, birds and reptiles are also common household pets.

Regardless of the type of pet, the average American spends approximately $500 per year on pets– more than they spend on budget categories for hobbies, toys and footwear. In addition to the basic cost of the pet, other pet-related expenses may be overlooked or forgotten in family budgets.

As with other categories of the household spending plan, it is wise to include and track pet expenses in the family budget. A new publication from K-State Research and Extension (KSRE) released just last month can help families keep an accurate record of their pet costs. You can find the new publication entitled “Dogs, Cats and Birds, Oh My! Factoring Pet Costs into a Family Budget” by searching for MF3368 at the KSRE Bookstore website at www.bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu.

If you’re considering adding a pet to the family, or just trying to get a better handle on where your money goes, keep pet expenses in mind. Costs for regular services and products such as licenses, annual vet visits, medications, dental cleanings and pet food add up, and other specialty items and services for pets are growing at an increasing rate.

In addition to the regular costs of pet ownership, there are periodic pet costs to consider as well. If you’re a new pet owner, think about what you’ll need to house and protect your pet. For example, will you need an outdoor dog house or an indoor crate or both? Large or active pets may require you to add a fence to your property, and some families supplement a physical fence with an electronic barrier to keep their pets safely at home.

If you travel, it is important to factor in the costs for pet care while you are away from home– with or without your pet. The cost for a pet sitter or kennel service can be significant if you leave your pet behind, while traveling with your pet requires a secure pet carrier, extra supplies for feeding and waste disposal and possible pet deposits and/or transportation fees when the pet is along for the trip.
Other pet costs may include pet insurance and end-of-life considerations. Pet insurance is similar to health insurance for humans, covering illness, accidents and emergencies, but there are some policies designed to help pay for preventative care also.

When beloved pets pass away, there are certainly emotional costs, but also some financial costs as well. Pet owners may incur charges for medications, body disposal, burial or cremation and other costs.
So, is the extra cost of pet ownership worth it? Research has shown that cat and dog owners have fewer medical appointments and are less likely take certain medications than non-pet owners. According to the CDC, pets can decrease several chronic health problems, including blood pressure, cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels and feelings of loneliness.

The decision to add a pet to the household varies with each person or family and their specific circumstances. If you decide to get a pet, be realistic about the potential costs up front and track your pet expenses like you would other spending categories so you have good financial information. The Pet Budget Worksheet included in the new KSRE publication can be a useful tool for keeping accurate financial records related to the costs of pet ownership.

Linda K. Beech is Cottonwood District Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences.