Marcelyn Bangle feels there is plenty of bad news to go around, so she’s sharing a little of what she calls “good, family news.”
    Marcelyn and her husband, Dave, are busy preparing for what is being billed as “The Bangle Farm Olympics.”
    With the Summer Olympic Games from China just around the corner, Marcelyn Bangle said her family decided to get in the act.
    Marcelyn said her whole family will be together this weekend to celebrate the Fourth of July and they’ve been planning the Bangle Farm Olympics since Christmas.
    Her son-in-law from New Mexico came up with the idea and all 18 family members — ranging in ages from four to 67 — plan to participate.
    Teams will be divided up between Marcelyn and Dave’s three daughters. Each team will have their own color, T-shirt and special anthem.
    “The first competition will begin Wednesday night with our T-shirt designs,” she said. “Each shirt will have a team logo and be hand painted.”
    Other events at the Bangle Farm Olympics include a softball game, scooter obstacle course, three-legged race, swimming, disc golf, egg and spoon race, beach volleyball and something called the spit relay.
    Marcelyn and Dave both recently retired to a farm about 10 miles north of Wellington along Ridge Road where most of the Olympic events will be held.
    “We are limiting participation and spectators to family members only out here, but some events will be held in town,” she said.
    There are a total of 10 grandchildren, then add in Marcelyn and Dave, plus their daughters and son-in-laws and you have the formula for the Bangle Farm Olympics.
    “You just hear so much negative news these days,” the one-time Derby teacher said. “I think this is something positive.”