May 2015 The Official Paradise Valley Estates Residents’ Newspaper Volume XVIII, Issue 5 Spring Has Sprung! PVE Garden Group Celebrates Spring Left to Right: Ed and Martha Williams, Stella Haddock, Walt and LaVerne Suder, David Rausch, Warren Roberts for Davis Arboretum, Ann Farber, Jim Lynch, Judy Mulenburg (kneeling), Shirley Arnold, Fred Barthmus, Kay Green, Edith Barthmus, Jean Kunkel, Paula Higgins. PVE’s Landscape History Takes Center Stage! On March 5, Warren Roberts, UC Davis Arboretum Superintendent Emeritus, visited PVE a second time to present a program on PVE plants to the “Garden Party,” an event planned by the PVE Garden Club. Warren had walked along the edge of Laurel Creek (from the 3000 building to the 4000 area) about a month earlier to get his bearings along our riparian habitat. He noted that m a n y of our plants are immigrants from the orient, New Zealand and other regions with similar climate to ours. Warren was in awe of our giant “valley oaks” (white oak). These magni icent specimens have massive twisted limbs and deeply lobed leaves, thus their name. They are California’s mightiest oaks and may exceed 70 feet in height and spread! Their bark is ash gray and interesting to examine. PVE’S largest ones may exceed 500 years in age. He commented on other smaller oaks and identi ied them by leaf structure, bark, and growth habit. With the eyes of a keen observer (and Native American ancestry), he identi ied fennel, anise, manzanita, poison oak, cottonwood, toyon, California buckeye, elderberry (protected because of the elderberry beetle which is sustained by this shrub). All the while, he accompanied his observations with stories about the plant’s use in cuisine, industry and medicines. Those who heard and walked with Warren appreciated his humor and teaching expertise. We certainly value our environs even more because of his enthusiasm! —Dair Rausch 2 May 2015 – Elysian Fields PVE Passover Seder Last year’s Passover Seder, the irst for PVE, was a delightful and successful event for all sixty participants. Included were a handful of Jewish residents along with the non-Jewish residents, who participated in the traditional ritual with genuine interest and respect. It was a heartwarming experience. Denise Flowerday, our Life Enrichment Manager, decided that the event should be repeated this year. It was an immediate sellout with a long wait list. Passover is one of the most widely celebrated Jewish holidays. It commemorates the biblical story of Exodus when Hebrew slaves were released from bondage in Egypt during the reign of the Pharaoh Ramses II. Passover is a celebration of freedom. Note that Passover and Easter occur at the same time of the year. Recall, the Last Supper was a Seder. It is a time of family gatherings where the story of Passover is retold through the reading of a book called the Haggadah, (“The Telling”). Shelley and Joel Levinson are the editors of the special version of the Haggadah used at the Seder. Our Seder was conducted in accordance with the ancient tradition except that the key prayers were said in Hebrew. Linda Faraday did the blessing at the lighting of the candles. Each guest participated by reciting an English translation of the Haggadah as it was passed around the table. The focal point of the Passover celebration is a traditional meal called the Seder. The PVE Seder included the reading of the Haggadah, followed by the ritual meal with all its foods, songs and customs. Symbolic foods were served, including: matzah (unleavened bread) bitter herbs to commemorate the slavery in Egypt haroset – a mixture of apples, walnuts, honey, sweet wine and cinnamon to represent the clay the Jewish slaves used to make bricks drinking four “cups” of wine to celebrate newfound freedom The Dining Services staff lawlessly executed the meal. They deserve many thanks for their meticulous attention to the unique nature of the Seder. Special mention for the wonderful Seder menu: ge ilte ish, chicken “matzah ball” soup, Elysian Fields – May 2015 David and Dair Rausch lamb shanks, dessert. Everyone is looking forward to next year. —Harvey Tzudiker “Big Sky” Country, 1948 Larry Watson’s ictional memoir, Montana, 1948, is the selection for discussion when PVE’s Book Discussion Group meets Thursday evening, May 21, at 7 p.m. The discussion will be led by Mary Ann McKinney. This is a coming-of-age story concerning the adolescence of David Hayden, a resident of Bedrock, Montana, as he experiences a life-changing summer. The narrator is the sheriff’s son and nephew of the highly respected town physician. David is a deft eavesdropper, and what unfolds during a Montana summer is a family drama of pain, prejudice, and injustice. David’s father must choose between loyalty to his family and the justice he is sworn to uphold and must navigate the town’s casual prejudice against Native Americans living on the nearby reservation. The setting is faithfully reproduced in descriptive narrative. This short but powerful book is an important addition to iction of the American West. Plan to attend the book discussion that meets regularly on the third Thursday of each month in the Ron Ridley Room of the Community Center. All residents are encouraged to participate. —Liz Wildberger 3 Dining Services Can you believe! Here we are, one third of the way through 2015. As the days keep getting longer, time is passing more quickly. That said, we all had a delightful Easter with 500-plus in our Dining Room. Then, we celebrated Jewish Passover with a Seder dinner, and spring has definitely arrived with the arrival of the continental breakfast at the pavilion. You not only have a choice of pastry and juices, but also can watch Tai Chi on the veranda, bocce ball on the court or just pet the various dogs and chat with others. We have heard many accolades about the Easter Buffet. Not only was the selection grand but also some that dined rather late also thought the selection looked just as fresh and appealing as it did at 11 a.m. David has often commented that when a large number of people come in at one time it can cause some back up in the kitchen. That can be easily understood when one visits the kitchen as there are four workstations preparing main courses. These include a grill cook, a sauté cook and a pantry cook preparing cold dishes and salads. At night, there is an additional specialty cook, doing only the specials for that evening. There are a number of other stations such as soup, beverages and desserts. Also, there is the whole second area that does all of the food preparation. When a waitperson takes our order, it is put into the computer with all of the special changes that you may want. Your order is transmitted to the prep line and given to the appropriate cook. The waitperson can then pick up the soup for serving and then the salad and/or appetizer. When the cook has finished preparing your plate, it is covered and placed in the heated window with its order for the waitperson to pick up and serve. It has been estimated that the amount of water consumed per day in water glasses in all the dining venues of PVE is about 26 gallons. By the time they are washed, a total of 100 gallons has been used. That totals 3,000 gallons per month. With the current drought condition, we ask residents to consider whether they 4 would like water and, if so, please take what you will drink. There will still be as much water as each resident wants, but again, we want to try to conserve water during this difficult time. If you have a little left at the end of your meal, please add it to the flowers on the table. They will thank you. There were 119 signed comment cards with 89% pleased with the food and 97% happy with the service. Please don’t forget to congratulate Chrispin Marquez and Chris Chitwood, our servers for the month. Remember, filling out a Comment Card will help ensure better service and continued fine dining at PVE. Bon Appetit! —Fred Montanye Precipitation at PVE Again this month, very little rainfall was recorded by the three PVE residents who provide precipitation data for Elysian Fields. An average of .82 inches was recorded for a total of 20.20 inches since July 1, 2014. This compares with an average of 26.44 inches for the past 17 years. We are about six inches or 22% below average. Water levels in the reservoirs that support PVE were as follows on April 15: Lake Berryessa was at 65% of capacity, Lake Oroville at 52% and Lake Shasta was at 59.7%. The reservoir levels are essentially the same as last month. Weather Trivia courtesy of Ruby Hardy Q: What was the hottest temperature in May in California? A: 122 degrees in Death Valley, recorded in 2000. —by Peter Palmos May 2015 – Elysian Fields Golfers Explode at PVE The PVE Golf Club is growing by leaps and bounds. Groaner’s dinner hour was missing from the pairings sheet. Walt had asked why everyone was Fifty-one signed up for the Jokers Wild tournathere for dinner when none was scheduled. ment and a record 45 made it all the way to the Bruce Bartels passed the irst tee. Yes, we did have a Montoya Trophy to Jack few Jokers trying to pump McNichols. Jack moved from life into the game. I’m not the East Coast just to be sure what happened on able to join our golf club. the course, but some weird And he went so far as to get score cards were turned in. his shoulder repaired so More on that later. he could try to beat Walt. The Golf Club welcomed Ann Waldman passed the new residents Vern and Ann McDaniel Ladies Trophy to Chong with a rousing cheer Dottie Shelly for leading the of welcome. Walt introduced development of the new a special guest, Renee Smith, Ladies Nine Hole Players. president of the Resident The putting contest got Council. It’s always good to out of hand as four teams butter up to the council just tied for low putts. To in case we need something determine a winner, Walt later. Renee enjoyed every had each team captain draw moment—or at least she a card from a deck. The Alex laughed a lot. Ann Waldman, Dottie Shelley Kosmin team pulled the high The crowd thought Walt card and received a free was trying to pull an April drink. fool’s joke early in the “Holy smokes!” was the evening as he stumbled reaction to a scorecard around trying to remember indicating a score of 63. The what came next. Once the name of one person attestfog cleared and he found ing to the score was Hillary his script, he began by Clinton. Ah, inally a Joker presenting “a one of a kind” arrived. pin that he had discovered in a thrift store to Ann 3rd Place tie (76): Chong. Vern was asked how Jack McNichols, Jim Lunn, long he had been playing John Parker, and Ann golf because his bag towel Waldman – Ben Montoya, showed years of dirt and Kimmie McCann, Dave use. There was no answer so Mohler, and John Gearhart Walt warned Vern that we 2nd Place tie (74): golfers at PVE are particular Bruce Bartels, Jack McNichols Walt McDaniel, Vern Chong, about our bag towels looking Bill McNamara, good and Walt gave him a new one. and Nancy Bartels – Bruce Bartels, Sheila Askey, Walt asked for big participation for the Fisher Warren MacQuarrie, Bob Carlisle, and House Golf Tournament, sponsored by PVE in June. Jim Thomson Golf Club members were encouraged to assemble teams, both residents and/or friends. 1st Place (73): Paul Kersey, Harry Parker, Pat Harry Parker was the only person who noted Mohler, and Charlotte Godsey that the usual item about the Moaner’s and —Walt McDaniel Elysian Fields – May 2015 5 Why I Am Proud to Be a Nurse! A friends’ dear four-yearold daughter is suffering from a very aggressive leukemia. After chemotherapy, she also needed a bone marrow transplant. This was done in mid-November. Unfortunately, this is a very dif icult procedure and hospital recovery is very lengthy. This meant that the family had to spend the holidays in the hospital under strict isolation. The parents have blogged us all with updates on a regular basis. On Christmas Day, the blog included the following. “The staff at Stanford has been great and I could see them sneaking in during the middle of the night and placing more gifts on Massy’s growing pile. They are truly amazing people and we are forever thankful.” While moving, it also reminded me of my experience earlier in my career. I was the new Director of Nursing at a Children’s Hospital in Virginia. As it came time to prepare the holiday staf ing schedule, something happened that amazed me. Usually, nurses request time off especially around holidays. NOT THIS TIME! The requests, particularly from the most senior nurses and head nurses, were to work 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. on December 24. They even seemed to keep track of whose turn it was! After the schedule was drawn up, the nurses all went to work together planning. Each child was to receive a magni icent stocking illed to over lowing with wonderful toys and gifts. The stockings were to be hung on each bedpost after the children went to sleep on Christmas Eve. On Christmas morning as the children awoke one little boy called out: “He found me!” No wonder the nurses wanted to spend such a memorable night with their little patients. The joy these nurses felt caring for these special children on Christmas Day particularly since Santa had found them (even in the hospital) was heartwarming. These are only two of many reasons why I’m proud to be a nurse! —Sally McNichols 6 Beginners’ Luck The PVE Women’s History project showcasing notable PVE women who have made a difference in our community presents a program titled “Beginners’ Luck” on May 27 at 2 p.m. in Rawlinson Hall. The program focuses on PVE women who were irst responders for community action here. A group of dedicated women residents persisted in demanding appropriate programs like itness, fundraising for altruistic causes, spiritual life and artistic and literary outlets. In addition, fun was an important element for activities. Interviews have been conducted and the resulting candid responses will be supported by a slide presentation emphasizing the roles that early residents who happened to be women played in the development of our community at PVE. “Archival” photos will show just how these pioneer PVE women operated and how they managed to start programs that lourish today. Plan to be present when this intriguing program is presented. It emphasizes women who were instrumental in establishing activities, stimulated by residents who arrived in 1997 and offered skills, talents and creative abilities to establish a community that today is a premier example of what retirement living should be. —PVE Women’s History Committee In olden days a glimpse of stocking was looked upon as something shocking but now, God knows, anything goes. —Cole Porter Sock Hop on May 8! May 2015 – Elysian Fields A Chaplain for All Seasons Chaplain Lester Westling, or Father Wes, as he has been known for 60 years, arrived at PVE with a wide variety of stories from a diverse and colorful life history. In addition to being a priest, a missionary, a military chaplain, a psychotherapist and an author, he may be one of the few residents at PVE who has actually been connected with four branches of the service: Navy, Marines, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine. Les’s irst hitch, so to speak, was in the Coast Guard Reserve and, while working his way through seminary, served in the Merchant Marine. After ordination as an Episcopal priest, he served several parishes in Northern California and, along with his late wife Marjorie, worked as a missionary with the Igorots in the Mountain Province of Luzon and in a Church School of 4,000 Chinese students plus two Chinese parishes in Tondo, Manila. With the outbreak of war in Vietnam, Les joined the U.S. Navy at the American Embassy in Manila, saying he wanted to be a chaplain and go to Vietnam. The Navy Consul replied, “If you are crazy enough to want to go there, we are crazy enough to send you.” And Les got what he had asked for and then some. During his irst year, he was with Field Medical Battalions and the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Infantry Regiment. Up north, he learned to travel by himself in the delta. He then moved into a “circuit rider” combat ministry to 65 Navy Commands and Army Advisors, moving about the canals off the Mekong and Bassac Rivers and along the Cambodian border. “Every day Elysian Fields – May 2015 was Sunday, and every night was war,” Chaplain Westling said. After Vietnam, Les earned his master of pastoral psychology and doctor of ministry degrees under the direction of the Naval Postgraduate School. He then established the very irst Family Therapy Clinic in the Navy and Marine Corps, and contributed to family reunion research and training of professionals for the Joint Center for Prisoner of War Studies. This was in preparation for the 1973 return of the prisoners from Hanoi. He was so impressed by the young Americans of many faiths with whom he served that he elected to remain in the Navy Chaplaincy for 26 years, serving in the surface leet, air wings, submarine squadrons, and Naval hospitals. However, retirement from the service was never truly a retirement. After serving as Command and Battle Group Chaplain with the USS Carl Vinson, Father Les returned to the ranks of the priesthood, this time in Redding, California. Upon reaching age-required church retirement, he served as a Psychotherapist with Tehama County Mental Health. He continues his passion for service even now by writing non iction books on the treatment of returning veterans and their families struggling with post-traumatic stress and related mental health issues. You might want to check them out. You should be able to ind them in the PVE Library or just ask Les. —Jan Heise 7 The 2015 Bocce Season Is Underway The 2015 bocce season kicked off Monday, April 20, at 9:00 a.m. In the first game, the Pallino Pals (Bergerot) played the Wild Turkeys (Tzudiker). In the second game, the PVE Angels (Isherwood) played the Sky Chiefs (Terry). Two spirited runoff matches between leading teams from last year preceded the season opener on Friday, April 17. The Red Hot Paninis (Ridgway) squared off against the Devil Dogs (Riley) and the Bombardiers (Palmos) met the Green Hornets (Wisner). This lively competition was witnessed by an unprecedented crowd of residents who were also enjoying the first continental breakfast of the season. A great time was had by contestants and fans alike on another beautiful day in paradise—Paradise Valley Estates, that is. The most watched bocce games are at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, in conjunction with the continental breakfast at the Pavilion next door to the bocce court. The 10:15 a.m. Friday games are also well attended. Remember, bocce is played every morning between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. during the week. It is an entertaining spectator sport and all residents, their families and friends are welcome to come to watch and cheer. Benches and chairs are available for everyone. All teams have played at least one game by the time you read this article. Most teams have played twice and the season is well under way. Team standings are posted regularly on the bulletin board in the in-house mail room. 8 Green Hornets (leŌ to right): Nancy Wisner, Phyllis Mosher, Be y Stack, Fred Wisner. Bombadiers (leŌ to right): Herb Heberling, Pete Palmos, Diane Heberling, Gay Bowen, Pat Palmos, Be e Brown. May 2015 – Elysian Fields Regardless of team standing, it is clear that all players are winning new friends and are having a great time except when the ball doesn’t do what is expected! However, disappointments are fleeting. The more common emotion is elation at winning a point or knocking an opponent’s ball out of position. For any residents who may be thinking they would like to play bocce, but didn’t sign up in time, it is not too late. Just call Marilyn Isherwood at 759-2075 or fill out a sign up slip (available on the bulletin board) and slide it into box 3112. See you at the bocce court. —Bill Green PVE Angels (le to right): Bob and Marilyn Isherwood, Tom Winburn, Barbara Scanlin, John and Janice Parker, Dick Betchley. Tad and Bocce Mama “Oh no, not those socks again!” Flamingoes (le to right): Dennie and Tom Hansen, Jerry and Karel Hedrick, LaVerne and Walt Suder. Elysian Fields – May 2015 9 PVE PC User Group Answers Questions Spring Is Here The trees are blooming All the advancements in making comAnd lowers are breaking forth. puters easy to use have still left a good A little rain coaxes them on number of Microsoft Windows computer And the smells are like sweet perfume. users who want help with their PC. As a What a time to be alive and living result, the PVE PC User Group started in Here in Paradise with all your friends. December of 2014 and now comprises It is time to re lect and give thanks 30+ members. Between 15 and 25 PCUG For each day brings its blessing to enjoy members attend the bi-monthly meetings And each moment can be a thing of beauty. ( irst and third Thursday of the month). A broad spectrum of topics is presented —Bruce Bartels with the goal of making complex technical subjects understandable to nontechnical users. technology professional and Wolf has been a volTopics include the critically important unteer computer teacher at Senior Net and other computer security: anti-virus software, phishing senior organizations. attacks, passwords and other aspects of Shortly after the early meetings, Stu applied his protecting users against cyber criminals. expertise to setting up a web site for the PCUG “Housekeeping” topics have covered tasks that (pvepcughelp.com) hosting meeting presentahelp computers function ef iciently. Getting pictures from digital cameras to computers is a topic tion material and other information useful to the group. The PVE Apple User Group now also uses of high interest. Buying a new computer was the web site. covered in a recent session. An important part of The formation of the current user group is the each meeting is a discussion (Q&A) period where members can bring up ad hoc topics or questions. result of a conversation started by Dominic Battistella a long-time PVE resident (Class of ‘98) The PCUG meetings are led by Stu Lovenduring one of my exercise sessions in the Quail thal and Wolf Schaechter, both Class of 2014 Creek Fitness Center. Years ago, when PVE resiPVE arrivals. Stu is a retired AT&T information dents were relatively new to personal computers, Dominic started three PC user groups with over 90 members. As the group leaders dropped out, the activity stopped, but Dominic felt there was still a need. Hearing that I’d been a Senior Net computer teacher, he talked me into starting a group – assuming there was a demand. Well, the Green Book signup sheet soon needed an extra page and the irst meeting was in November of 2014. Have a question about your PC? Come and join us at the next PC User Group meeting. —Wolf Schaechter Wolf Schaechter, Stu Loventhal 10 May 2015 – Elysian Fields Person of Interest – Jean Laroue We have known Jean Laroue for almost 35 years. Joan met him irst when she and two college friends attended the cultural center/French cooking school in a small town in Burgundy. Jean and his Danish wife, Kirsten, operated a live-in school where students stayed with them. This allowed for a better environment for the fellow students to get together. I attended twice with Joan when I was able. Kirsten spoke English so Jean called upon her to translate when a participant could not understand the French. Jean also included visits to local farmer’s markets and occasionally other local cultural activities. Whenever I rode in the front with Jean, I would watch him and have a strong feeling that he understood the English being spoken by the others in the back seat. But he “never” understood. When we were about to start our own cooking school, we took a little trip to visit Jean and Kirsten. They had retired and were happy to give many pointers. Jean came from a very interesting family from Brest. His father had been an admiral in the French navy. His mother came from a family that sent her to England as a child to study English. Jean had been in the navy when WWII broke out. When France surrendered, Jean was interned in a POW camp. Managing to escape, he made it to the coast where he and two other escapees were nailed up behind a bulkhead on a ishing boat and were successfully transported to England. There he worked with Charles DeGaulle and others involved in the French Resistance. His mother remained in Brest where she became the “Chef de Resistance” for the local French underground. As Brest was a major seaport with huge ship repair facilities, she could quiz many of the ship repair workers. She found out what ships had come in for repairs and which ones were ready to put to sea again. Because she spoke English, she would broadcast to England two or three times a week. With her information, the RAF could bomb the ships as they went to sea. She was so successful that a commemorative postage stamp was issued after the war with her picture on it. There is also a street in Brest named for her —Tante Yvonne— Elysian Fields – May 2015 Aunt Yvonne, her code name. She was betrayed and arrested by the Germans in early 1944 and sent to a concentration camp where she survived until after the war. Many locals are sure that it was a French person who turned her into the Gestapo. However, her health failed and she died shortly thereafter. After the war, Jean worked for the World Bank in Washington as maître d’hotel in their dining room for many years before returning to France. —Fred Montanye Save these Dates May 2 Kentucky Derby Party May 5 Solano Winds Concert May 6 NaƟonal Nurse’s Day May 8 Sock Hop May 10 Mother’s Day May 16 Armed Services Day Luau for Employee Scholarship Fund May 20 PAWS for a Cause (see below) May 23 PVE Chorale Spring Concert May 23–25 Memorial Day Weekend May 27 PVE Women’s History Program PAWS for a Cause: The guest speaker and his working canine are from Paws for Purple Hearts (PPH) in Sonoma County, the first program of its kind to offer therapeu c interven on for veterans and ac ve-duty military personnel. They teach people who have post-trauma c stress disorder to train service dogs for their comrades with combat-related injuries. PPH is built on the trusted and me-honored tradi on of veterans helping veterans. All residents are welcome to a end. Contact Ann Farber, 427-1538, for further informa on. 11 More than Beach Reading PVE’s Book Discussion Group selected The Orphan Train by Christine Baker Kline, a historical novel, for discussion in April with Sue Smith as leader and facilitator. If it is time to set aside vacation and leisure time reading, this is a provocative book to start the collection. Two women, one 91 years old, one 17, ind they are remarkably similar in backgrounds, though circumstances have left the older woman, Vivian, wealthy and the young girl, Molly, performing community service in lieu of going to juvenile hall for stealing a copy of Jane Eyre from the school library. Baker Kline carefully researched the framework for the novel to document a neglected period in American history when scores of destitute and orphaned children were taken by train from New York City to the Midwest. This example of socio-economic altruism gone dramatically wrong occurred between 1878 and 1930 when well-intentioned people believed that taking children from crowded conditions into adoption opportunities would bene it all. Careful plotting, memorable characters, and dramatic settings make The Orphan Train interesting on many levels and a thought-provoking entrée into the struggle for social justice in America. —Liz Wildberger Move-Ins since the Last Issue Kirk, Sonoko 1113 Estates Drive From Fair ield, California Kraft, Roy, Captain, USN (Ret) and Jeannie 5842 Constitution Avenue From Sun City, Arizona McNeill, Frances 3201 Estates Drive From Vacaville, California Youngϐlesh, Richard “Dick”, Colonel, USAF (Ret) and Kay 1207 Estates Drive From Alexandria, Virginia 12 Remembering… Sara Haas Loving Wife Arrived: November 1997 Departed: March 21, 2015 Move with Confidence As we age, some of the systems involved in maintaining balance and stability go through changes. Vision may decline as things become blurry, depth perception is reduced, contrast between objects is lower and seeing in the dark becomes dif icult. Changes also occur in the way our muscles respond to nerve signals and a decline in physical activity can result in loss of muscle strength. Conditions such as arthritis or Parkinson’s disease can make you less secure on your feet. In addition, poor posture and certain medications may also affect your balance as can joint injury or surgery. Fitness is a big part of successful aging and balance exercises are a key component of a complete itness program. One of the best ways to build balance is by walking. Walking keeps your leg muscles strong and reinforces balance. Practicing Tai Chi has also been shown to improve balance and reduce the risk of falls. We are fortunate here at PVE to have our comprehensive balance-training program offered at the Powerhouse. The program utilizes the HUR I balance platform and other equipment in the Powerhouse to work on center of gravity training, postural training and gait pattern enhancement. If you are struggling with con idence in your movement or have had a fall recently, this program is for you. Our itness team is here for you, so please reach out and contact me so we can assist you in planning your personalized program, enabling you once again to move with con idence. —Jan Olson May 2015 – Elysian Fields Mackay Barks about Boarding School It’s been awhile since I barked about my life. I am a really lucky dog. My family and friends at PVE are the best and the dog park is such fun for all of us. However, I guess my manners need some ine-tuning so I am now at boarding school for two weeks. My parents murmured something about “there is no excuse for bad manners!” I love people and people have treats. I feel the need to get their attention so sometimes I have to jump up on them. I think they should love to pet me, feel my soft fur and then, possibly give me a treat. Can’t blame a girl for trying. Evidently, this makes my Mom yell and run to protect the person I am loving. Doesn’t she know if I knock them down, I will lay down next to them and let them pet me and even lick them if necessary? Well, anyway, here I am at boarding school. The headmaster is very big and expects me to do what he wants me to do. It’s kind of neat though because every time I do what he wants, he tells me I am a good girl. I have known that since I was born. It’s nice to know he’s a believer. I’ll keep you posted. I think I better pay attention to him if I want to get back to my cushy home. I miss Kenzie, my little buddy and know she is getting some of my treats! —Mackay Askey Love Is Ageless We met in 2008 when our spouses were in long-term care in Vacaville. After our respective spouses died in 2009 and 2010, we continued a casual friendship. We kept in touch by phone, but by 2011, we began to have lunch together and then visited each other in Jane’s Vacaville home or Sam’s Fair ield residence. We became committed to each other during 2012, still going back and forth to spend time together. In July 2014, we moved into an apartment here at PVE. Our large extended family is very happy with our commitment. —Sam Grzan and Jane Gravin Elysian Fields – May 2015 ? Did You Know You can view the Elysian Fields in color on the PVE web site, www.pvestates.com. Follow these steps to get to the monthly list of issues. 1. On the HOME PAGE, click on “About Us.” 2. Click on “News.” 3. Click on “Past Newsletters” 4. Select the month you wish to see from the list. You will also see an all “text” version that can be used by those who are visually impaired. Solano Winds May Concert Solano Winds, Fair ield’s community concert band, invites PVE residents to a program of music that Music Director Bill Doherty has named “War and Peace.” The concert will take place on Tuesday, May 12, in Rawlinson Hall at 7:30 p.m. Marches by Gustav Holst and John Philip Sousa, the Gustav Holst composition Mars, the Bringer of War, and contrasting thoughtful pieces by Galante and Aaron Copeland will be part of a season called “Attractive Opposites.” As part of the 20th anniversary season of Solano Wind’s founding, Music Director Bill Doherty has been showcasing band members, and for this concert, saxophonist Julie Auman will be the featured soloist in Serenade for Alto Sax and Band and lutists Cathy Pierce and Lauren Nucum will perform Andante and Rondo, a lute duet. Plan to be part of the audience when the 65-member Solano Winds performs an homage to times of confrontation and to times of peace in a memorable band concert celebrating the 20th anniversary of its founding. —Liz Wildberger 13 Termites at PVE? Dear Elmer, I’m sorry it took so long to write, but after moving to our new home at the Pleasant Vista Establishment (everyone calls it PVE) and getting somewhat settled in—at least too much to change our minds about living here—we found out there were termites at PVE. Not just in one or a few residences but probably everywhere people live. Now I’ve previously had termites in homes and went through the tenting, etc. and later the orange-oil treatments, so I’m not a stranger to them. But couldn’t they have told us about them before we moved in? So what was I to do? I heard of a See-anEss form used to complain about things and looked high and low but couldn’t ind one. The front desk referred me to the residents’ mailroom where I could not ind such a form and went back to ask again. No, it wasn’t that residents’ mailroom but the other residents’ mailroom. I don’t know how anyone can ind which the right residents’ mailroom is! Finally I found the form, which is C&S, not See-an-Ess, and quickly dispatched it and waited for a response, wondering in which mailroom I would get my reply. After a few days, I gave up, having checked both mailrooms several times with no responses. Then, at dinner one evening, I noticed the gentleman across from me had an unusual name badge with the word “Termite” on it. So I cautiously asked, “Do you have termites in your building?” “Oh, yes,” he said, “we have several.” I barely had time to consider anyone counting termites when he continued on, “Ed, Bill, Herb, Jack, and maybe a few more.” I was blown away. Not only did they count their termites, they gave them names! His next question completely baf led me. “Are you interested in the termites?” I said that I wished I had known about them before moving here. “Oh, that doesn’t matter,” he said. Seeing by the blank look on my face that I had no idea what he was talking about, he asked whether I was interested in woodworking. I said I was but had got rid of all my tools and equipment and didn’t plan on doing any woodwork here. “Oh,” he said, “the termites have a shop with everything needed. Can I show it to you after dinner?” This I had to see—termites with their own shop. I wondered if we would need a magnifying glass to see it. 14 After dinner, we headed out, walked past the swimming pool and pool room, and went down a long hallway to a door with a coded lock. Inside was a fully equipped woodshop for use by residents and it inally dawned on me . . . the PVE termites were woodworkers with their own shop. I don’t know whether I was more relieved or embarrassed. —Jerry Mulenburg The Coast Guard Sword The Coast Guard Of icers’ Sword is identical to the U.S. Naval Of icers’ Sword in all manners except the inscription. Both are still required articles of uniform for of icers of these services. In 1852, the leaders of the Navy and Revenue Cutter Service (an ancestor service of the Coast Guard) agreed on the design and joint use. At the time, the sword was still the primary weapon for hand-to-hand combat. Most military ri les and pistols still had to be hand-loaded. The sword is now part of the uniform for formal occasions such as parades, change of command ceremonies, weddings, dining in, and dining out. As a new ensign in 1960, I was temporarily assigned to the Coast Guard Third District in New York City waiting for my ship to arrive. The irst American astronaut in space, Alan Shephard, was to be honored with a ticker-tape parade on Fifth Avenue. Being the junior of icer and one of the few who had his sword handy, I (was) volunteered to lead the Coast Guard’s platoon in the parade. Four years later, I volunteered to lead a platoon from my ship in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade down Fifth Avenue. That was the end of the of icial use of my sword except for cutting cakes at weddings. —Robert Isherwood May 2015 – Elysian Fields The Luau Party Is Coming! Peace When peace brings sleeping joy To girl and boy, When lowers o’er all the earth Foretell springs birth, Come walk with me good friend. We’ll ind good mirth with all spring weather, You and me together. —Elly Vasak PVE Sponsors Fisher House Golf Tournament For the second year in a row, PVE is sponsoring the Fisher House golf tournament on Friday, June 26, at the Paradise Valley Golf Course in Fair ield, California. The tournament bene its the Travis (AFB) Fisher House. The Fisher House is one of 54 “homes away from home” built on military bases with medical centers by the late philanthropists Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher. They generously created a foundation to help military families in need where they can stay without charge when one of its members is hospitalized. The concept is similar to the Ronald McDonald houses, which provide housing and support for families with children undergoing medical care. Last year’s tournament raised more than $11,000 for Fisher House. The goal this year is to raise $20,000. The tournament is based on a scramble format. The $100 entry fee includes a light lunch at 11 a.m., free range balls, golf, and an awards dinner. We expect to have a full slate of golfers with several foursomes from PVE. There is a $40,000 hole-in-one contest with the winner sharing the prize with Fisher House ($20,000 each). After golf, there is a blind auction and a raf le for many nice prizes. The entire event is being planned by the PVE Resident Marketing Committee. If you would like to play, please call Walt McDaniel (426-4288) who is setting up PVE foursomes for the event. —Bruce Bartels Elysian Fields – May 2015 The fourth annual PVE Luau Party is coming on Saturday, May 16, from 4:45 to 7:30 p.m. The area between the Community Center and Pavilion will be transformed into a Hawaiian paradise complete with a lavish feast, hula dancing, live music, and tropical drinks with fun and fellowship for everyone. The event will spotlight the six 2015 scholarship winners as guests and is a fundraiser for next year’s PVE educational scholarships. The “Parrot Pub” will feature Mai Tais, delectable pineapple wine, and full beverage service. Hula dancing will be performed to the music of the Bob Jacobs band, including Hawaiian dances by PVE residents. PVE resident hula dance instruction is currently in progress so join in (see Friday Flash Left to Right: Vicki Getz, Dair Rausch, Jan Holderness, Dair Rausch, Unadel Shapton, Marie Smith, Ann Waldman, Julie Thomas announcements). Shade tents will cover tables to protect participants from the sun with special seating on the veranda and luau host assistance for those who have dif iculty crossing the lawn. The cost is the same as last year ($25 plus a meal ticket). Seating is limited to 200—sign up in the Green Book at the Community Center desk between April 25 and May 10. Sign-ups will be by tables of eight so get your friends to sign-up with you to sit together. Watch the Friday Flash and posters in the Community Center for updates and additional instructions. Get your Hawaiian shirts, sun dresses, and sarongs out of the closet and join the fun—prizes for the best dressed! —Les Westling and Jerry Hedrick 15 Raby School Raby is the name of a huge former land grant by the British Crown several square miles 40 miles from Sydney and named after a town in England. When I was a child, it included the farming community of Leppington, some large farms, and other tiny communities. I attended Raby School, as did my dad and three of his four siblings. It was a one-room school with a covered veranda on two sides that was built on the slope of a hill and had lat land in front for a play ield. We had six grades, forty students, and one teacher, Mr. Morris, a very strict but kind veteran of Gallipoli who had a (PTSD) facial tic that was often mimicked by naughty boys. More than half the students did not speak English. Most were born in Australia but their parents had come from Italy, Poland, Romania, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovak, and other countries. After a couple of months, they taught their parents English. I have nothing but admiration Elysian Fields Staff Editor Sheila Askey Associate Editor Copy Editor Bruce Bartels Marilyn Isherwood Photography Norm Heise Editorial Assistants/Writers Biographies of Residents Fitness Writer Jan Olson Life at PVE (human interest stories, organized activities, and campus events) Bruce Bartels Memories (of past events and signi icant happenings) Liz Wildberger Poems Layout and Production 16 Phyllis Mosher Marty Wildberger Natalie Karst Did You Know ? The PVE Vision Statement: Paradise Valley Estates strives to be the premier continuing care community by excelling in care and services, providing ample, well-trained, and caring personnel. The management will be leaders in providing cost effective care and services to meet the needs of the Community. Our programs will result in resident satisfaction by improving their quality of life in a safe environment. To ind out more and to read the Code of Ethics, go to page 3 of the Resident Handbook. for Mr. Morris. Occasionally, he got rattled! I remember a tall boy who yawned a lot in school. Eventually, he found a piece of chalk in his mouth! Mr. Morris was a good shot. One afternoon per week Mrs. Morris came to teach the girls to sew while Mr. Morris taught the boys woodworking. Our school grounds were about two acres with some nice trees. A favorite tree for climbing was a big peppercorn tree, and we used to throw peppercorns at each other for fun. I chose my house at PVE because there is a big lawn and a peppercorn tree off my patio. At recess, we all had to play “Rounders” for exercise. I now know it was like baseball but with a cricket bat and tennis ball. The ball went a long way and we often got to run two “rounders.” A favorite game for the boys was marbles. I decided to get some marbles that I carried in a little cloth bag. How hard could it be? I thought! Georgie Gray won all my marbles with only his left hand. As a younger child, he had been playing hide and seek and hid in his father’s chicken feed-mixing machine (a terrible no-no). Not knowing he was there, a worker turned the machine on and he lost his right arm and left leg. I never played marbles again! We had a two “holer” for boys and another for girls. I think I will never forget the smell. For sixth grade, my Mum decided I needed to go to boarding school for a better education and to meet “better” people! So off I was sent, most reluctantly, to Methodist Ladies College in a suburb of Sydney. That is another story. —Jennifer Tegel May 2015 – Elysian Fields
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