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Greetings from Lares St

By Kathy Simmons

 

            Wow, this weather is wonderful and isn’t it what we are all here for.

            Marilyn and Bob Cole would like to say a big “Thank You” to all the wonderful volunteers and those on the Maintenance Committee who worked so hard on cleaning up the very overgrown area at the west end of the big lake behind the homes on the cul-de-sac of Lares St. They felt it was overdue to be attended to and really are enjoying being able to see the lake. The neighbors also appreciate the work that was done.

            Bernie Nielsen and Jocelyne Marsolais are glad to be back in Florida. They have quite the adventurous journey. They leave Montreal and drive about 7 hours spending the night in Pennsylvania. The next morning they are back in their car to drive an additional 3 hours arriving in Virgina and then they and their car board an Amtrak Train to travel to Florida. While on the train they enjoy a delightful dinner and of course some great sightseeing along the way. Once they get to Florida they de-board the train, retrieve their car and drive about 3 hours to arrive in the Village. They shared in the past that they drove about 1650 miles and have cut that down to about 810 miles of driving for them.  Over the summer they travelled to Wisconsin to visit their great neighbors from the Village, Dave and Nancy Jarvis. They spent 10 days in Wisconsin and really enjoyed their visit there.  During the Christmas season they had company, Jocelyn’s son Sylvain came to visit from Montreal. He was here for 10 days and they enjoyed his visit very much. The weather took him by surprise as he has been here in previous years and never experienced the perfect weather that we had while he was here. He traveled here from Mexico and shared the weather here was much nicer than it had been in Mexico.  While he was here they were out and about trying many different restaurants.  Sylvain really likes seafood so they tried a lot of new restaurants and also cooked good seafood at home. Jocelyne shared he is single and doesn’t do much cooking so he was really happy to have many good meals. Sylvain borrowed their Mustang Convertible (Bernie’s Toy) to have an evening out and again enjoy our great weather.

            Congratulations to Terry and Kay Paterson for winning the best decorated golf cart and best decorated home during the Christmas season! Your holiday spirit was enjoyed by all and certainly helped light up the Village.   

            Dee and Tom Cook are ready for guests at their new home on Lares. Tom's daughter, Christina, from Mount Pleasant, Michigan is visiting for her dad's birthday and to check up on them to see how they are adjusting to their brand new home. His daughter, Kelly and her husband, Mark Dell will visit in mid February to escape winter weather in Michigan and to soak up some warm sun at the beach. Maybe they will go with them and take some rest from sorting through the many boxes they have. They are still making time to visit with friends and attend Wednesday coffee hour. Dee has several new participants learning to do stained glass on Monday mornings and a small group interested in the writers group. They have welcomed friends who have come over to check on their move-in progress and to see their new home. That is why they are here in VHL, enjoying friends who add so much to their lives.

 

Ratan Circle
By Barbara Balascio
 
            A BIG THANK YOU to Neil Mattison who has volunteered to temporarily become the “Butt Man” and do roadside pick-up around the Village circle.  Cliff & Judy Thompson started this blessed act of giving several years ago in conjunction with their daily morning walk.  Thank you Cliff & Judy for your many faithful years tending to this task.
            Welcome to Gloria Lefebvre & Art Canino who are renting on Ratan.  Gloria was a former owner on Ratan.  Art enjoys golfing and more golfing and he and Gloria have joined the shuffleboard and horseshoe groups.  I even heard Gloria beat Art in a game of horseshoes.  She’s the beginner at the game – guess beginner’s luck really does work at times!
            Diane & Dean Corrie, along with grandson Dominick made a 4,000 mile trip over nine days to Indiana, Wisconsin, & Michigan, travelling into the Upper Peninsula and completely circled around Lake Michigan over the Christmas holidays.  They visited their daughter Stephanie and granddaughters Haille, Jessica, and Katlin and their families. Weather was good but they are finished driving for awhile.  The next time they plan to fly.  I noticed Diane has an “artsy” wooden ironing board on her patio which she painted with a pretty scene and it’s being used as a stand.  She also did a nice job painting a lamp stand.
            Trudy Hammer was glad to have her daughter Ange from MI visit for two weeks during the Christmas holidays.  They especially enjoyed early morning walks on the beach and they are both avid tennis players.  Ange enjoys the beaches at Boca Grande but was shocked to find a huge stingray at her feet as she was strolling along the shore.  When Ange was visiting during the summer, a stingray startled both her and Trudy as it jumped from the water into the air as they were walking along the water’s edge.  The moral of the story is, if you walk the waters of Boca Grande, beware of your toes!
            Lin & Dean Harroff spent three weeks visiting family in MI over the holidays.  Lin & Dean have beautiful bougainvillea – both in front and back of their house.  Someone must have a green thumb in that household!
            Carolyn & Harold Nix also travelled back to IN for Thanksgiving and Christmas.   They spent five weeks with the family.
            Welcome back to Ratan, Lucia & Richard Shulten.  This is their 16th year in the Village.  Rich & Lou are from Cape Cod, MA.  Originally they didn’t think they were going to make it South this year due to Richard’s health problems but things improved and they were fortunate enough to find a vacancy at Viveiros’ place for the season.  They are looking forward to daughter Stephanie visiting this month.
            I stopped to welcome Margie & John Diller from PA and Margie was making the big soft pretzels.  They are friends of Jeanne & Willis Ritchey who own the unit they are renting for three months.  This is Margie & John’s third year in the Village but the first year on Ratan.  Margie enjoys golfing, line dancing, walking and reading. John spends his time walking and fishing.  They are looking forward to their first trip to Hawaii in March with a group of friends from PA.  Aloha Margie & John – I know you will have a fabulous time!
Welcome also to Carol & Max Fralick from MI near Lake Superior in the UP.  They purchased Grace Dumas’ home the end of the season last year.  They’ve been in the Village for 8 years, previously residing on Desant.  Carol is involved in the exercise and Osteo classes and also enjoys biking.  Last year she was in the Chorus but is still trying to decide if she can fit it in her schedule this year.  Max keeps busy on “honeydo” projects, even though he tries to convince Carol that he’s “retired”.  Lots of luck Max!  They are planning a visit to Texas to see their son and family in March.
Margie & Jerry Atkinson are renting Lynn Bedford’s place this year.  This is their third year in the Village but their first year on Ratan.  They are from Dryden, MI which Margie says is in the “thumb”.   I had never heard of the thumb of Michigan but then I’m not from MI.  I guess you Michiganites know all about the thumb.  Anyhow, Margie gave me a brief history lesson and it’s between Flint and Port Huron.  When I looked at the map, there really is a thumb!  Margie has introduced Mah Jong to the Village, which is a Chinese game played with tiles.  She is a great teacher and quite a few people are learning this new strange game.  You speak a little Chinese when playing this!  Jerry enjoys cards, cards and more cards.  He plays pitch, euchre and poker while in the Village.
Marilyn Woodard comes to VHL for the parties – and maybe a little bit for the weather!  This is her fourth year in the Village and she’s from Waterford, MI.  She also enjoys the osteo classes, euchre and water aerobics.  You will also find her at most dances and sometimes riding around in a little yellow golf cart with a handsome young man!

Alyce Warren, Gerri Friskey, Barbara & Dan Balascio went on a three day Mystery trip over New Year’s Eve.  They had no idea where they were going from one minute to the next but had a great time.  They took an airboat ride through the swamps in the Everglades and then travelled to Fort Lauderdale.  The bus took them through a Christmas light display in Pompano Beach, went to the Lion Safari in West Palm Beach and stopped at a gourmet chocolate shop.  Of course, a New Year’s Eve party was included and a fabulous seafood, etc. buffet brunch at a Yacht Club on the waterfront at Fort Lauderdale.

Joan Scott went home to MI for Thanksgiving and then spent her first Christmas in the Village.  She had 14 guests for Christmas dinner.  Joan was exhilarated by the colorful golf cart parade.  She went to Hutchinson Island on the east coast of Florida for five days in January to visit two different friends from Canadian Lake, MI.  This is Joan’s seventh year in the Village and she enjoys many of the activities in the Village, including taking a dip in the canal when returning from a boat ride with the “Rat Pack” owners.  Joan and Barb Jacobs have also gotten into kayaking at Placida.

Our Village is getting very busy with all of the activities – something for everyone – so take advantage and get involved.  It’s the best way to get to meet people and have fun!

In the meantime, Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone!

           

 

Silage Circle and Sidi Court

By Ruth Tully and Doris Hamill

 

            With the start of a new year, I’d like to start by saying, I’m glad we don’t have any snow to deal with. It’s great to be where the sun shines almost every day.

            There are several homes on our two streets. So, Doris Hamill and Sharon Simmons are assisting with gathering news from our neighbors. If you have something of interest and we haven’t talked to you, please contact one of us. We would love to include it in the next issue of the Voice.

            Last month’s article was lost in cyber-space and didn’t make it to the printer. Therefore, this month will include both December and January.

            Susie and Dick Morrow arrived a little later than planned this year. They are delighted to finally be here.

            My neighbor, Bev Meirow, had one of her son’s here, with his family, for Thanksgiving. Bev always keeps the Simmons household supplied with cookies and other delicious goodies.      George and Judy McLean got here before Thanksgiving. They had lots of damage to their home, in Loudon, Tenn., from spring storms. Hail, rain, and tornados came to visit their area. The bad weather didn’t stay long, but long enough to destroy Judy’s garden and her potted plants. There was also damage to their home. The repairs finally got done so they could head south before winter set in.

            I’ve seen our neighbor, Mr. Pat out doing lots of pressure washing since we got here.

            Ted and Connie Race are happy to see the Villagers returning for the winter, as they were here all summer. Their son, Steve came to visit in mid-November, and enjoyed this area very much.

            Cathy and Leo Curley arrived earlier this year. They had stories of great times with their grandchildren, at Curley Acres and other spots too. They picked blueberries and strawberries. They also all enjoyed going to Story Land in New Hampshire.

            Bill and Doris Hamill  flew in from Kalamazoo to Punta Gorda, with their dog, Mitzi. They arrived on November 13th. Bill and Doris became great-grandparents to Tegan Nicole Hadley on Sept.1st. Parents, Josh and Jill live in Northport. This baby was the main event for Bill and Doris (besides being here).

            Joanne and Dick St Jean have been here since Sept. Now they are looking forward to the annual family Christmas gathering in New Hampshire. When they return, 2012 will have arrived.

            Randy and Sharon Simmons had a great party with their family before they left Indy. They celebrated Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas and all the birthdays they would miss. Everyone wore Halloween costumes…what fun it was.

            Harold Whittum is recovering from hip replacement at Drury Lane. Hope you get home for Christmas, Harold. You have got to keep doing all those “sit-ups or pull-ups” everyday!!      Welcome back to Mim and Rey Wilbur from Kents Hill, Maine for another winter in sunny Florida. Mary Schwartz is looking forward to another full table for Christmas, with her children, grandchildren, and their friends. She loves to cook, so she is in her glory.!!

Bill and Ruth Tulley are going to spend Christmas with their son and family in Jupiter, Fl., and then head to Harwinton, Ct. There they will have a late Christmas with their daughter and family. On New Year’s Eve, they will be attending the wedding of their grandnephew at Hingham, Ma. The wedding is at 8:30pm and the reception goes until Midnight!! It is a 2hr. Ride from Ct., so I hope the weather will be in our favor.

Gertrude Holtze  just returned to spend 2 months at her mobile. She rode down with an old friend, Diane DiSanto, from Seneca Falls. Gertrude just sold her home there and is now living in a retirement Home in Clifton Springs, NY. She said she finally has found a couple bridge players. She is a cracker-jack bridge player and has won many awards at our Village Tournaments.

            Just a reminder…. The Silage Circle/ Sidi Ct. Block Party will be on March 10th at the boat dock. We will need volunteers again this year. If you would like to help, please contact Sharon Simmons. We will have a meeting sometime in late January. Please get involved.

A HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!!!!!!

            January…..The Curleys  are enjoying swimming at the YMCA and golfing. Their son, Jack, and his friend, Heather, spent a week with them. They enjoyed the Florida sunshine.

Pam and Al Godan arrived in time to enjoy Christmas week here.

The Silage cul-de-sac has full winter occupancy for 7 homes, Jan. thru March.

Bob and Judy Frigo arrived at New Years , after stopping to visit aunts. One 93, in Palm Harbor, the other one 89, near Brooksville.  Happy to have them back.

            Norton Ohio is home to Linda and Robert Zerucha. This is their 5th winter in Florida. Judy enjoys reading and bob plays golf. They like their location, looking out to the canal and boats.

            Harold Whittum is home from rehab.

            Dale and Betty Domer arrived the first week of January. They are glad to be here.

            Doug and Cathy Dean, from Avon Indiana, they are renting at 7518 Silage. They are newly retired. Both enjoy playing golf and many of the other activities in the village.

            Jim Christie got in last week. The new trees he planted last season look good.

Enjoy the sun and warm weather, there is no snow in the forecast………