— — Have you ever wondered what members of Congress do to fill their time? If so, here’s an example from a wire story that came to the News last week.

“Congressman Steve Rothman, the member of Congress who has the honor of representing the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, NJ, where the (New York) Giants practice and play, introduced a resolution congratulating the organization on their victory in Super Bowl XLVI.”

The story highlights just one reason that a recent Gallup Poll shows only 10 percent of Americans think Congress is doing a good job. Personally, I’m wondering why the number is so high as I’ve yet to meet anyone who has anything good to say about any state or federal official.

Can this momentum be carried over to November and the elections? Hopefully so, but in all reality, probably not. We have become so used to dysfunction, lying, immorality, waste and double-talk that it becomes a “ho-hum” thought.

I’m with last week’s email: “Go Green — Recycle Congress!”

•••

Might as well get all the gripes out at the start of the column.

Why would the City of Tonawanda School Board rename Tonawanda High School? The new official name is “Tonawanda Middle/High School”.

Now really, just because the middle and high school students are all in one building does not mean the whole name has to be changed.

Take, for instance, the recent wonderful play put on by the students from across the district and the high school and middle school students. The press release said it was being performed at Tonawanda Middle/High School.

One reader called to ask if that was a new school in the district and where it was located.

The honor rolls, in the past, were sent in separately from the high school and middle school. They still are, but have to be combined and rearranged so they are one school.

If I were graduating, I’d be annoyed that my diploma said I was graduating from Tonawanda Middle/High School. And what about the Quality Students? There are QS students from North Tonawanda High School, Cardinal O’Hara High School and Tonawanda MIddle/High School.

If the school was going to be renamed, find a more generic term or, as they say, “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.”

•••

OK, some better school news. Being left-handed and proud of it, I’m always aware of news for those of us who believe it’s quality not quantity that counts.

The third-grade writing workbook used at our grandson’s school is all about writing cursive. The first few pages show how to hold a pencil correctly, how to turn the paper on the desk and how to do simple exercises such as drawing circles, etc. in preparation for writing the alphabet. Lo and behold, on the left side of each page are the identical instructions for left-handers and the instructions carry through the whole workbook. The workbook was probably written by a left-hander.

•••

Peggy Bartolomei from North Tonawanda wrote a wonderful letter about the excellent chowder served by local volunteer fire companies. She said a person asked her about the “unusual” container she had, a chowder kettle handed down to her from her father.

“These chowder pots were a favorite among the old-timers around the fire halls. They were sold by Wagenschuetz Hardware store in the day,” Peggy wrote.

She did an online search and found that the Leyse Aluminum Co. of Wisconsin, no longer in business, manufactured them and the item was listed as a “milk pail.”

“How did these pots become associated with firemen and their chowder?,” she asked. “And why did Wagenschuetz advertise them as chowder kettles?”

She said she herself purchased one there and just wondered about the name. Each member of our family also has a chowder kettle from a small one-quart container to a four-quart size — all bought at Wagenschuetz.

Anyone know how they came to be called “chowder kettles”?

•••

Joe Grace from Bath, Maine, (a Tonawanda News paper boy in 1942) sent along an article he wrote for the “Reminisce Magazine” entitled “How I Met My Spouse — Under a Lampshade!”

His spouse, “my darling Joanie Younglove” was pledging for a  sorority at Tonawanda High School in 1947 with Joe’s sister. The two girls hatched a plan for Joanie and Joe to meet.

On pledge night, the pledges had to wear a small lampshade for a hat, knee socks, no saddle shoes or makeup.

“I answered the door and there, in spite of the lampshade, silly socks, etc., stood the prettiest, nicest girl in Tonawanda. I was smitten,” Joe wrote.

They were engaged at the Naval Academy and married June 9, 1951, after Joe graduated.

“After six children and a wonderful life, Joanie died in 2006, still the cutest little thing you ever did see.”

Let’s hope the full story will appear in a future “Reminisce” magazine. Thanks, Joe for sharing.

•••

Last week’s note on seniors, brought in this response.

“Senior citizens are constantly being criticized for every conceivable deficiency of the modern world, real or imaginary.

“However, we would like to point out that it was NOT the senior citizens who took the melody out of music, the pride out of appearance, the courtesy out of driving, the romance out of love, the commitment out of marriage, the responsibility out of parenthood, the togetherness out of the family, the learning out of education, the service out of patriotism, the Nativity scene out of cities, the civility out of behavior, the refinement out of language, the dedication out of employment, the prudence out of spending, the ambition out of achievement or God out of government and school.

“We do understand the meaning of patriotism, and remember those who have fought and died for our country. Just look at the seniors with tears in their eyes and pride in their hearts as they stand at attention with their hand over their hearts!”

Contact community editor Barbara Tucker at 693-1000, ext. 4110 or e-mail barbara.tucker@tonawanda-news.com