Arbela Street

By Cleo Borema

            Arbela Street, just like the Village has had almost all mobiles occupied and busy. 

Walt and Margaret Cooley are the last to arrive.  They left the snow and ice and arrived to sunshine.  Walt is already golfing and fishing and Margaret is shopping.

            Judy Frasco and dog Lillie, are new to Arbela St.  She is from Cape Cod.  She has three children, one in California, Nevada and North Carolina.  Her son flew from California to Boston drove her down here and left to go home from here.  She was here on another street last year, is happy to be back and do all the games, Bingo and Coffee and visiting with people here.

            Bob and Ann Tefteller are having company from Dale Hallow Lake in KY in February.  He plays golf and enjoys fishing.  She enjoys crocheting.

            Bob and Betty Schutter saw the New Year in at a hospital in Venice.  Betty had terrible pain in her stomach, went into Hopsital on December 31^st in the afternoon with a bowel obstruction.  The twisted bowel was repaired without surgery.   She came home Wednesday, January 4^th and has to rest awhile.  Bob is very busy and is a good cook, she said.

            Ken and Louise Graham are new owners at 7451.   Louise has been coming to our village for about 20 years visiting her parents John and Lorraine LaRoche, and John after his wife passed away.  Last year they rented on Candace and bought a mobile on Swinton and rented to Nick Gillette and Carol Butler.  Three days later they purchased on Arbela and now live there.  They just got home last summer when Ken was in a motorcycle accident.  His injuries were two broken bones in his leg and shattered his knee.  He was on crutches all summer.  Louise had surgery in early November so they were worried about being able to come down.  They “Married off” 2 sons three weeks apart and then they arrived on Florida at the end of November.  The first part of December they took a cruise to Panama Canal and South America.  They are also going to New Orleans on a bus trip.  They have friends visiting, Brian and Heather Gibson from Ottawa in January.  More news next month.

            Nick and Evie Fultz had to leave on January 5^th to go home due to the death of their son in law Bill Runkle, age 54 who has had a long battle with cancer.  They will not be back this season as their daughter Deborah wants them to stay with her for a while.  They can’t stay in their place as it isn’t open to the park until April.  Will be back here in October.

            Clifton and Judy Thompson had Christmas visitors Rodger and Angela Decker and girls,
Amie and Annah.  Rodger is Judy’s son.  January 12^th Clifton’s son is coming for a few days.  His name is Darren.

            I Cleo, am reminiscing today as I write, today was Frank’s 91^st birthday.  I do have some news.  I am going on the bus trip to New Orleans the 29^th and trying to take in all the January busy things that are going on.  My calendar is full.  I will be in New Orleans I hope when you read this. 

            Any news please give me a call at 1-231-690-1315.  Thanks.

WELCOME TO ADANA AVENUE!

By Sandy Sullivan

January/February                                                                Look who greeted us!         

            I was reading the December Voice and noticed Adana needed a reporter.  I decided that would be a great way to force myself to meet everyone and volunteered for the task.   I had one week to get something together.  Unfortunately, I misread the email address for Darlene (q vs g) and apparently my January article is hanging out in cyberspace somewhere, as a result I am including it with the February Voice. 

            My husband, Dick, and I arrived at the Village the end of October.  It was quiet here and we have enjoyed watching the daily activity increase as our friends and neighbors return.

            A few days after our arrival, neighbors Gene and Dorothy Roark

drove in.  Beauford (Roark’s basset hound) was excited to see us, he remembered where we kept his treats (I’m guessing it was the treats that were responsible for the tail wagging).  Beauford has had some adjustments to make this season.  Gene purchased a new crusin’cart (few if any are used for golf, right?), which Beau loves, and sold his orange crusin’cart to new residents, Ray and Martha Oelschlegel.  Beau cries every time that Ray and/or Martha drive by in “his” crusin’ cart.  Beau is also adjusting to “tie down.”  He decided roaming the neighborhood was better than just his yard.  Gene let Beau know otherwise (or at least he tries)!  Hard to believe those short legs can go so fast!

            Ray and Martha, along with Spuddy (dog) and Sadie (cat), moved from Maine into their new home Thanksgiving Day.  Ray was happy to find a job working for a local concrete company and is home early enough each day to get in a little fishing.  Ray noted this week the new job was going great!  He didn’t mention the fishing…..  They have rented in the Village in the past and are excited to be Village owners. 

            Our neighbors, Cleo and John Libonati, arrived while we were in Kentucky visiting our family for the Thanksgiving holiday.  Cleo wasted no time putting that “green thumb” to work digging in her gardens.  I notice that two new gardens have “sprouted” and they look very nice.  Prior to their arrival their son, John Jr., had stayed at their home a few weeks.  We enjoyed visiting with him.  He spent a couple of days cleaning their home before he left.  Wonder if he would like to stay at our place next fall?  As of this writing they have not returned from “home for the holidays.”

            Several homes on Adana had “face lifts” last summer and look great!  Christmas lights sparkled!  I’m sure glad there was no contest as it would be very difficult to decide if Phil and Lita Stone (Hedwig Ct.) or Gene and Dorothy Roark would get the “best “light display” award on Adana!  Both worked diligently to provide us with brilliant Christmas cheer and welcome in a sparkling New Year!

            Year rounders’ Bob and Edith King have been in the Village 25 years!  They visited family in Massachusetts for 8 weeks this summer.  Visiting with their great granddaughter, Angelica, was the high point of their visit!   Edith had returned home from the hospital the night before I visited and wasn’t up to par.  Bob joined us and noted that a hair appointment would go a long way toward restoring that sunny smile!  Edith has recovered and she and Bob prepared “something different” for Christmas Dinner.  I saw Bob at horseshoes and he noted the duck was delicious!

            Exciting news for John and Julia Schroeder!  Julia retired in December as Vice President of Instruction at John A Logan College in Carterville, Illinois.  Julia noted John is working on adjusting to including her in his daily activities.  They are building a new lake home in Illinois.         Ruth, John’s mother, now 99 years of age, no longer makes the trip to Florida and stays in her Illinois home with some outside help.

            Jack Hines returned to the Village in December from his home in New Hampshire.  He went home for the holidays and noted he probably won’t do that again!  Too cold!  He was very happy to return to sunny Florida!  His 2012 goal is to walk every day!  Jack, stay firm, we’ll be watching you walk by. 

            Ed and Lynne Heywood, from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, purchased their Adana home last year.    Ed is a retired principle and Lynne is a retired nurse.  Cousin Anne Powers (Beckley) introduced them to the park.   In 2009 Ed was in a serious accident where numerous facial bones, back, and more were smashed and broken.   Thanks to wife/nurse, Lynne, he was able to do most of his recovery at home.  The warmth of Florida is much kinder to his “titanium” face.  Both enjoy walking and biking.   Their 19 month old black lab, Cat, is Ed’s joy!  Cat is a delightful youngster!

            Gerry and Heather Gilbert are ‘full timers’ and have been in the Village for 9 years.  Heather is originally from England!  They have two rescue dogs, Carley and Sasha.  I met Carley and she is a sweetie!  They have an interesting way of walking the dogs, as I have laughingly observed (assuming Gerry and Heather were ignoring their own exercise needs).  They drive their crusin’ cart and let the dogs walk/run.  Heather explained the cart allows the dogs to run, therefore getting enhanced exercise.   I now commend her for taking such great care of her pets!  You might want to “buddy up” to Gerry, he recently took a position at the Publix liquor storeJ.

            Dick and I are spending our first year at the Village as new owners.  My cousin, Judy Carnes (Ratan Cr) introduced us to the Village a couple years ago.  We grew up and raised our children in Southwest Michigan.  We retired a year ago and bravely sold our home and most of our “stuff.”   Summers we reside in South Haven, Michigan, in a park that we have spent summers since 1986.  We rented in the Village from Jim and Donna Cannon last January.  By mid-April Jim convinced us it would be a huge mistake to turn down the “deal” he was offering for our purchase.  We succumbed, and we love it!  He and Donna had remodeled the unit and we are busy making it ours.  Our daughter and her family (Lexington, KY) spent Christmas with us and we all fit nicely.  Grandchildren, Max 8 and Mackenzie 5, spent most of their time helping me drive Rick and Linda Wilkinson’s crusin’ cart, which they so kindly left for us when they went home for the holidays.  Dick and I have an “our door is always open” policy and would love for you to stop in for a visit.  Please stop and/or call me (269-760-0742) with any information you would like to share in future issues.  Enjoy your winter!