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Morristown Manor residents go up, up and away

By ROB DOWDY
Staff writer

Volunteer Mike Onkst assists J.B. McClarnon and his wife, resident Peachie McClarnon, as pilot Alvin Hansen prepares for takeoff assisted by Mike Jarnecke. 

NEWS photos by DAYLA THURSTON
MORRISTOWN — Residents at Morristown Manor got the ride of a lifetime Tuesday evening, when the Never Too Late Foundation offered hot-air balloon rides to all those who wanted to participate.

“It was fun; you don’t get that opportunity very often,” said Virginia Wright, a resident at the nursing home.

The event was originally scheduled for June 24, but dangerous weather conditions — high temperatures, humidity and wind — pushed the date back twice before Never Too Late and balloon pilot Al Hansen were able to settle on Tuesday.

The ride can be given only if winds do not exceed 5 miles per hour, and the heat is not unbearable for the senior citizens the ride is designed for.

“On a tethered ride, the less wind the better, because naturally, (the balloon) wants to pull away,” said Bob Haverstick, founder of the Never Too Late Foundation.

The balloon was tethered to the ground and went about 40 feet in the air. Each ride lasted only a couple of minutes, but this allowed more riders to experience the view from above.

According to Haverstick, between 40 and 50 people got to ride in the balloon. Morristown Manor, 868 S. Washington St., originally had 35 residents on its list, but Hansen stayed later than planned so more people were allowed to ride than expected.

“I just thought it was neat that people kept wanting to get involved,” Haverstick said.

Everybody that wanted to go on the balloon ride had to sign a waiver before boarding the gondola.

Perhaps what made the rides unique was the special gondola used. It is a special design that comes with a ramp that allows wheelchair-users to come aboard. The gondola was created by Ralph Braun, founder of the Braun Corporation.

Once inside the gondola, the wheelchair is secured to prevent jarring movements that would bring harm to those inside. Each ride given Tuesday evening was with a wheelchair-user, another person and the pilot.

“I think she really liked it,” said Jane Hawley, whose mother, Maxine Breece, was one of the first to go up in the balloon.

Though some of the residents of the nursing home were unable to fully explain how much they enjoyed themselves, Haverstick said he believed everyone left the event content.

“You can tell they’re plugged in to what’s happening, even if they can’t express it,” he said.

This was the first and last time Never Too Late will offer the tethered balloon rides, due to the amount of rescheduling that must be done to ensure everyone’s safety. Haverstick said the constant delays make the ride almost “anticlimactic” for those involved.

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