1. sports
2. swimming

The
Volume 11, Number 2
Quill
The Official Publication of Four Seasons at Upper Freehold
February 2015
Manager’s Memo
by Peter Kilgour
Editor, MaryAnn Yurcisin
[email protected]
Editorial Board
Arnie Adirim, Iris Adirim, Susan Boyd,
Vicki Charney, Gail Hillman,
Judy Horowitz, Carol Koch, Betty Krams,
Deb Margulies, Barbara Schuman
Ken Margulies – Technical Adviser
Barbara Schuman – Recording Secretary
Circulation Manager – Harvey Horowitz
Regular Columnists
Iris Adirim, Rosemary Albach,
Janet Bassano, Delia Cicchetti, Gail Hillman,
Betty Krams, Barbara Schuman,
Community Manager, Peter Kilgour
And FSUF Committees Chairs
Statement of Editorial Principles
The goal of The Quill, the official publication of
Four Seasons at Upper Freehold, is threefold:
To provide information to residents of FSUF from
the Board of Trustees, committees and property
management company.
To inform the residents of FSUF as to social,
cultural and educational events in the Community
and surrounding area.
To establish a means of communication within
FSUF that fosters community spirit and goodwill
among residents.
Any and all articles and opinions expressed in
The Quill represent the viewpoint of the authors
and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of FSUF.
We assume no responsibility for the contents or
accuracy of the same.
The Quill reserves the right to reject, edit or
condense all submissions and will not accept any
article it deems libelous, inflammatory or in bad
taste.
The Quill is printed by Senior Publishing
Company, 1520 Washington Avenue, Neptune, NJ
07753. The newspaper is at no cost to the FSUF
Homeowners Association, and most advertisers
have been solicited by the publisher and not the
editorial board of this publication.
We disclaim all responsibility for the goods and
services advertised herein.
2
february, 2015
Happy New Year All!
The following will be the dates for the monthly BOT
meetings. Meetings will be held at the Clubhouse and
start at 7:30 pm.
•
•
•
•
•
•
January 22
February 26
March 26
April 23
May 28
June 25 - BOT election night.
Anyone that has not sent in their card access
information, please remember that this information is
vital to the management office. This is necessary to
keep accurate records, and to be sure no cards are given
to people outside the Community. Anyone having a
problem is to contact the management office.
Think spring!
On Our Cover
Winter scene of our indoor pool contributed by
Len Koch. Doesn’t it look inviting! See Pool News
on page 5. Thanks to all who contributed Community
photos!
Additional Contributors This Month
Iris Adirim, Weezie Huntington,
Walt Nerlick, Janet Pica,
Barbara Schuman, MaryAnn Yurcisin
2015 FSUF Directory
The 2015 FSUF Residents’
Directory is available in the
Clubhouse. Please respect our
neighborhood privacy and use
the information for Community
activities only. It is not intended
for commercial or political
communications.
Each month the Board closes out the monthly Quill
article by thanking the residents for their interest,
comments and support. We feel it’s vital we know your
opinions and feelings about your Community and how
it is being managed.
At present, being the middle of winter and probably
the coldest period of the season, it is quite understandable
that very few of us want to venture out in the bitter cold
evening to attend a BOT meeting, especially if there is
little new business to learn about. However, there are
some developments going on whether in the planning
stage or in the implementation stage that you should
learn about and become an active participant.
Recently, the community received some very
encouraging news regarding the DEP and our pending
additional well permit status. Our geologist consultant
has informed us that our permit, at the time of this
writing, has passed all of the requirements for approval,
and awaits a final signoff from the Department Director,
which is imminent. Concurrent to our receipt of the
permit, a public notice will be sent out as notification of
our intention to proceed with the drilling of these wells,
barring the unlikelihood that someone files in opposition;
we will have a green light to proceed 30 days hence.
This project will have a dramatic impact on our
landscape maintenance and appearance by lifting budget
restraints on watering and a very likely positive impact
on future yearly budgets by minimizing irrigation costs
once the well drilling loan is paid for.
Other projects currently being finalized for
implementation when the weather permits, are completion
of street preventative maintenance, remediation of the
indoor pool ladder supporting structures, weatherproofing
of the ballroom doors, modification of the clubhouse
patio to incorporate drainage along the rear entry doors,
repair of the outdoor pool copings, repair of the outdoor
pool perimeter walls and railings and reconditioning of
the tennis courts including the addition of striping for
pickleball.
All of these items are slated for approval this winter
and we need your participation at the BOT meetings to
voice your support, concerns and/or insight in regard to
the planned improvements. This is your Community and
we want to hear from you.
So, we’ll start a fire in the lobby fireplace to warm
you up prior to the commencement of the meetings,
when things will really heat up in a positive way. Plan
on joining us and become an active part of the process.
We are looking forward to seeing you.
As always, the Board wishes to extend its thanks to
our Community Manager, our Maintenance Technician,
all of our volunteers serving on standing and ad hoc
Committees and to all of our residents for their interest,
involvement and support. Thank you.
Your Board of Trustees
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february, 2015
3
Grounds for Discourse
by Gene Beckman
Our first meeting of the year revealed some good news
and some not-so-good news.
First, the not-so-good news: We were advised that
the deferred maintenance budget was reduced from
$50,000 to $40,000 for 2015. This may be a problem
for the $10,000 we had requested for tree replacement.
We are hoping that the lack of any significant snow in
November and December may loosen up some funds for
tree replacement next spring.
Now for the good news: Our geologist consultant,
Tom Dwyer from MAZER advised that the review
process for our DEP permit to drill the remaining wells
has been completed and the Draft Permit should be
signed before the end of January. Then there will be a
30-day review period during which the public can review
and possibly call for a public hearing. If that happens,
the permit may be challenged or opposed. If there is no
call for public hearings, approval could come by March
or April. If there are hearings and we prevail, approval
could come by early June. If and when the permit is
approved, we would intend to proceed immediately
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february, 2015
since well drilling in the early spring is much easier and
results in less ground damage than in warmer weather.
We would also benefit from the additional water savings
this summer.
A funding plan has already been established to
complete the rest of the 13 wells. The presentation that
was given to the Community in 2013 regarding the wells
has been posted on the FSUF web site, for any new
residents and anyone interested in the background. The
entire Community voted and approved this initiative,
which now comes at a time when our savings of
$100,000 plus in water bills will be extremely helpful
in balancing our budget once we have paid for the wells.
In response to the many resident complaints over the
years regarding dirty, messy, pear trees, the Committee
plans to develop a street tree replacement plan for those
trees. We discussed the option of replacing trees as
they die or replacing a percentage of live healthy trees
annually. Since the reported life of the flowering pear
tree is about 13-15 years, it’s an issue we need to address.
We would need to find an acceptable replacement tree.
The Princeton Elm was selected for mass replacement
on Georgetown following Storm Sandy damage. Cost
and budget constraints would dictate how many trees
per year over how many years. We would consult DTE
(Down to Earth) to help us with the details of a final plan
to recommend to the BOT. While this plan is far from
a reality at this point, we hope that, if it materializes, it
will provide some relief for those residents who have
endured the many problems associated with the pear
tree. As we have learned over time, while it is beautiful
for a short blooming period in the spring, it was not a
good choice for many other reasons.
Stones were placed at the shallow end of the Betsy
Rose Pond and then with the guidance of the Pond
consultant, they were adjusted into final location. We
hope to see positive results in the summer. Also various
residents who have requested that common property trees
be removed for a better view of the pond were advised
that no common property trees could be removed since
they were placed based on soil erosion, aesthetics and
other factors embodied in the approved Master Plan.
Finally, we are pleased to advise that the BOT has
approved the purchase of a bench to be placed by the
horseshoe pits and it will be installed in time for the
coming season.
We are pleased to announce that Carol Koch has
joined our Committee. Our zone coverage will be
reviewed to incorporate more than one person per zone
now that we have more members.
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The light can be utilized as a timing light, permitting
swimmers to set the light for 15 minutes to 4 hours while
they swim. This device cost $250. The original device
had to be programmed for all the hours the pool was
open when lighting was required. Most of the time we
were illuminating a swim pool that had no swimmers.
It was estimated that our annual cost to provide light
for the indoor pool was about $1,800. The new light
could reduce this operational expense by as much as
60 percent.
We have received four proposals from vendors to
repair our pool flooring and all ladders at our indoor
swimming pool. These proposals are being evaluated
by the BOT, the Pool Committee and our Community
Manager. The repairs will be scheduled for the summer,
when our outdoor pool will be opened.
The outdoor pool will not have lifeguard services the
coming season. For years it was believed that a lifeguard
was required by law. It has been determined that this is
not accurate. We will provide daily pool service that will
clean and prepare the pool for swimmers. In addition, we
will purchase a system that will monitor our pool water
years, and it reduced the need for testing the pool water
from every two hours to testing the water twice a day.
The cost of the CAT will be $3,000. By utilizing a pool
cleaning service and purchasing a CAT system rather
than the lifeguard service, we will reduce operating
expenses at the outdoor pool by $8,000 for the coming
season. In 2014, pool expenses were $13,000 less than
the budgeted estimate. We anticipate additional savings
for the coming year.
Twelve new lounge chairs will be purchased for the
2015 season. These lounge chairs are the “peoples’
choice”; residents who frequent the pool find the higher
chairs more comfortable than the lower chairs.
We will be seeking proposals to prepare damaged pool
coping at the outdoor pool. This construction will not
interfere with the opening date of the pool.
The indoor pool hours are 4:30 AM to 11:00 PM
daily. Water volleyball hours are 9:00 AM to 11:00
AM, Monday and Saturday and 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
on Thursday. All residents are welcomed to participate
in the fun.
See photo, next page.
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5
Allentown Student Recognized by
Four Seasons Community
Walt Nerlick
Fun at the Indoor Pool!
Photos by Len Koch
Photos by Rosemary Albach,
Barbara Jaquett,
MaryAnn Yurcisin
6
february, 2015
At the BOT Meeting on January 22, Walter Nerlick,
a member of the Emergency Management Committee
(EMC), made a presentation to Allentown High School
senior, Evan Dubbeld, to recognize him for his extra
efforts in support of the new Technical Training
Program established for our residents. Since the start
of the program on December 14, 2014, Evan has
been coming to the clubhouse every Friday to train
residents and resolve all types of issues with laptops,
tablets, smartphones, networking, etc. Unfortunately,
due to a schedule conflict in his final semester, Evan
will be unable to continue to provide the training.
The program was established with the help of Mike
Dean, IT Director for the Upper Freehold School
District. The EMC is currently working with Mike to
identify another student volunteer to carry on the fine
work that Evan started. Also in attendance from the
school district were Dr. Fitzpatrick – Superintendent
of Schools and Brandon Crosby – Allentown H.S.
Vice Principal.
Friday Night Socials
by Kathy Davis
It all started sitting at the outdoor pool one beautiful
Friday afternoon early in the summer! A group of us
decided that we would go home, get what we were going
to have for dinner, along with what we would normally
drink, and meet back up at the pool patio at 6 PM. Thus
the Friday Night Socials began!!!
Slowly but surely word started to spread and more and
more tables were used each Friday night. What started
out with about eight of us grew one Friday night to over
fifty. The pool patio is such a nice setting in the warm
weather, but before we knew it, the outdoor pool was
closing and the weather was getting cooler.
The decision was made to go indoors. On the first
“inside the Clubhouse Friday”, it became very evident
the card room and the arts & crafts room were too small
because the group had become too large.
We then moved into the ballroom on the Friday nights
that the ballroom wasn't being used for Bingo or Friday
Night Movies. We had our resident expert, Jerry Charney,
make a Friday Night Social flyer with dates for the fall
schedule, and it was placed in the weekly calendar.
Our last Friday Night Social of 2014 was the best and
the biggest! On Dec. 19, FSUF's own Bruce Bassman
(pictured), a
finalist in the
Laurita Winery
A m e r i c a n
Idol contest,
graciously
performed for
us. Seventy-two
FSUF residents
showed up that
cold evening
to mingle with
friends and
neighbors, sing,
dance and toast a holiday drink. A great time was had
by all! It was quite a contrast from the first social that
was held at the outdoor pool back in June.
By popular request, the Friday Night Socials will
continue in 2015. Please watch the weekly calendar
for the dates and then come and party with your FSUF
friends and neighbors!
Hope to see you soon!
february, 2015
7
Read The Quill When You are Away
from FSUF
Welcoming Committee
Do you miss The Quill when you are away from
FSUF? You can get a copy online, either from the
FSUF Community page or from Senior Publishing, the
company that prints The Quill.
To get the most current copy, go to the publisher’s
website: www.seniorpublishing.net then click on
“Community Papers” on the left side. On the next page
click on “four seasons upper freehold” at the top and you
will open a window with the PDF file for the Newsletter.
Note: You must have the Adobe PDF Reader on your
computer, but if you don’t have it, it’s free and easy to
download. Do it now! Add http://www.seniorpublishing.
net/seniorpublishing to your favorites!
Note: The web address ends in .net and not .com!
Two members of our committee made the first visit
of the 2015. As always, new residents are happy to be
welcomed to the Community. We endeavor to give
them pertinent information about Four Seasons and the
surrounding areas. As part of the visit, we give them a
Welcome Bag with information and small items donated
by areas businesses.
The committees and activities of Four Seasons are
presented and explained and we encourage our new
neighbors to get involved in areas of interest to them.
If you notice a new face on your block or around
the Clubhouse, please stop and welcome them to our
wonderful Community. Another idea would be to
invite them to join you in a program at the Clubhouse.
Hopefully, our heartfelt welcome will encourage new
residents to get involved. New blood usually brings
vitality and fresh ideas to any organization.
As we meet and welcome our new neighbors, we'll
include their name and address in this column, if we
have their permission.
by Peg Iannetta
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FOOD
Time for Soup
by Delia Cicchetti
February is definitely soup time. For those of us
who have not been able to emigrate to a warmer clime,
nothing warms our cold bodies like a bowl of steaming
broth. However, look at the bright side, winter is half
over. Can spring be far behind?
Alice's Red Lentil Soup With Lemon
My niece, Alice sent me this recipe. It is lentil soup
with a twist.
3
1
2
1
1
4
2
1
1
3
tablespoons olive oil
large onion, chopped
cloves garlic, minced
tablespoon tomato paste
teaspoon ground cumin
salt and pepper to taste
pinch chili powder or cayenne
cups chicken or vegetable broth
cups water
cup red lentils
large carrot peeled and diced
juice of ½ lemon, or more to taste
tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Heat oil in a large pot; add onion and garlic and sauté
until golden. Stir in tomato paste, cumin, salt and pepper
and chili powder; sauté for 2 minutes more. Add broth,
water, lentils and carrot. Bring to a boil, partially cover
pan and turn heat to medium low. Cook about 30 minutes
until lentils are soft.
Process half of the soup in a blender or food processor,
then add it back to pot. Soup should be chunky. Stir
in lemon juice and cilantro. Serve soup drizzled with
olive oil.
Ham and Potato Soup
2 tablespoons butter
1½ to 2 cups chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
2 large carrots, peeled and chopped
¾ pound ham steak diced 1/2” cubes
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup water
4 to 5 cups potatoes, peeled and diced
½ cup heavy cream or Half and Half
3 tablespoons flour
1½ cups milk
salt and pepper to taste
Melt butter in a large pan. Add onion, celery, carrots
and ham. Sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables are soft.
Add chicken broth, water and potatoes. Cover and
simmer for 25 minutes. Whisk flour into heavy cream.
Stir into hot mixture. Stir in milk. Season with salt and
pepper. Mash slightly to thicken. Garnish with either
chopped parsley, sliced green onion or shredded cheddar
cheese.
Hot and Sour Soup
This soup is one of my favorite foods at Chinese
restaurants. It is not difficult to make.
½
⅓
4
⅓
½
2
1
4
2
½
1
1
1
cup lean pork
cup sliced mushrooms
cups chicken broth
cup bamboo shoots
cup bean curd cakes (firm tofu), cut into strips
tablespoons white vinegar
tablespoon soy sauce
salt and pepper to taste
drops or more hot red pepper sauce (or to taste)
tablespoons corn starch
cup cold water
large egg, slightly beaten
tablespoon sesame oil
scallion, minced
Cut pork across the grain in ¼” thick slices and then
into thin strips. Bring the broth to a boil and add pork
and mushrooms. Bring back to a boil and simmer 8 to
10 minutes. Add bamboo shoots, bean curd and simmer
another 1 or 2 minutes.
Mix together vinegar, soy sauce, salt, pepper and hot
sauce; stir into soup. Mix cornstarch with cold water and
stir into soup. While stirring, mix in beaten egg; keep
stirring until egg threads are formed and soup thickens.
Add sesame oil and stir. Serve garnished with scallions.
february, 2015
9
Ramblings
by Rosemary Albach
How much stuff do you have stashed away somewhere
that your aren’t even aware of? I knew I had tons, well
at least pounds of buttons someplace. I knew I packed
them along with cotton threads of many colors, on
wooden spools I might add, back in the earlier part of
the century. Well recently, I found them in the attic in
a sealed box. Some are separated by size and color;
they are in boxes, jars and tins. I must have believed
that I would do something with them at the time, but
there is no way I could ever use all of them. Why was
I stockpiling old buttons? I’m not kidding when I say
many, if not most of these buttons, are older than some
of you reading this paper. Some have to be older than
me. While most of them had been used and cut off a shirt
or dress, many are brand new, never used, still sewn or
clipped on to the original card with the price clearly
marked. Six black “suit” buttons cost all of twenty-nine
cents. I guess a pretty penny in its time. Take a look at
your sewing thread. I'll bet it's polyester on a plastic spool
if you bought it in the last 40 years or so. I’m planning
10
february, 2015
on bringing these things down from the attic but I have
to find an extra bit of closet space to hide them for the
next dozen or so years.
I recently found something else I didn’t know that
I “saved.” While stuffing one more napkin into the
impossible to close drawer in the china closet, I located
several papers. These were from the last quarter of the
past century. That means I brought them along with me
through two moves. The drawer had to be removed from
the cabinet in order to retrieve what I believed was a
napkin that got shoved in behind the drawer causing it
not to close. Instead, I found: four sheets of graph paper,
brown and creased, a half sheet of wrapping paper left
after covering a graduation present, mortarboards flying
in every direction, sturdy paper bag stock courtesy of
Two Guys which was cut into the pattern shape of the
dining room chair seats which we had recovered and
finally a permission slip. On an orange square of paper,
in red ink, was the written consent of a parent giving
permission for her daughter to come to my house for
“needlecraft” instruction. I didn’t recognize the name,
(though one of my children did) and it took me some
time to figure out just why this child and most likely a
few more were coming to my home for “needlecraft”
instruction. Then it came to me, the word instruction
was the clue, when the girls were in the Girl Scouts they
had to earn badges and one of them was Needlecraft I’m
guessing, and I was the instructor. I’m sure I showed
them the cross stitch, French knot and the lazy daisy,
but what they made or what became of any of their
accomplishments is a mystery. I must have signed a
paper or whatever it took to grant these girls their badge.
In the end, I guess the kids were better off that I hadn’t
volunteered to give lessons for a Cooking badge. Boiling
water for tea just wouldn’t count.
All Wrapped Up
By Gail Hillman
When the month of February rolls around, we’re always in search mode,
Looking for gloves, hats, and scarves in baskets that have overflowed.
It seems that one of winter’s missions is to find the best ways to keep warm.
Of course, the first way to accomplish this is by the clothes that we adorn.
There are other ways to keep us warm; these emanate from within.
Being with those that we love is the first place to begin.
These moments are our warmest and better than any coat of down,
In addition to ‘That Loving Feeling’, other remedies abound.
We can begin to imagine that good ‘ole’ Punxsutawney Phil,
Has climbed out of his burrow and will soon end the winter chill.
If he doesn’t see his shadow, our temperature will begin to rise,
Knowing that within six weeks spring weather will finally be our prize.
You can even look to birthday boy Elmo to put a smile on your face.
Although he was created in the 70’s, he certainly has aged with grace!
He can warm your heart with his antics as they broadcast across the miles.
Always fostering happiness and ‘tickling our souls’ with smiles.
If you still need something more to eliminate that winter chill,
Look to the musicians; they have the perfect pill.
“Unchained Melody,” “No Mountain High Enough,” and “At Last” are just a few,
Of the magical songs that can make the “winter undo!”
Now that you’re nice and ‘toasty,’ just remember there’s one more thing to do;
Anticipate the Valentine’s wishes and hugs that will soon be coming to you.
I hope February brings you snugly moments until we bid this month adieu,
For within a short time, a transformation will ensue.
february, 2015
11
Grandparents’ Corner
Let’s “Chip Away”
By Gail Hillman
There is no better way to be creative than to
use recyclables. When you recycle, you help the
environment, save money,
and end up with a masterpiece
of ‘altered art.’ Your one-ofa-kind piece of art leaves you
with satisfaction and great
pride, as well as, a wallet that
is intact.
Home Depot, Lowes,
S h e r w i n Wi l l i a m s a n d
Benjamin Moore will be
your new heroes after seeing
what you can do with your
old paint chips and those ‘collected’ from their paint
display samples.
There are hundreds of projects you can create with
paint chip samples. These are just a few of the easiest
ones.
Instructions:
For the diagonally striped project, cut the strips 1/8
of an inch or ¼ inch wide using your paper cutter. Use
either a permanent glue stick or spray adhesive to mount
on heavy cardboard that has been premeasured and cut to
fit into the matted portion of your picture frame. You can
paste the stripes either straight or on a diagonal. When
dry, insert the board into your frame. Voila, you are fini!
For the circle project, cut your circles in to 1 ½ inch,
1 inch, and ½ inch circles. Layer and paste the circles
one inside the other. For this project, I would use your
heavy-duty glue stick. As described above, mount on
your heavy cardboard and place the finished project
inside the frame.
These projects can't get any easier, but the results
are amazingly beautiful and creative. You and your
grandchildren can spend endless hours creating works
of art for every room in the house!
We accept no responsibility for any advertisements.
If there are any complaints concerning an advertiser,
please contact them directly. If you receive no satisfaction, you can contact your Better Business Bureau
or the Department of Consumer Affairs.
Needles Work
by Rosemary Albach
Materials:
1. Paint chip samples in your preferred color choices.
Choose square and rectangular ones for the circle
project and long strips that line up many colors of the
same hue.
2. Circle punches measuring 1 ½ inches, 1 inch, and ½
inch.
3. A paper cutter
4. 1 permanent glue stick
5. Spray adhesive
6. A picture frame with matting
7. Heavy duty cardboard
12
february, 2015
This month, I will show two very easy projects. One
is so easy that it might be something you could use as
a teaching example working with a grandchild. It is all
knit, it’s one big rectangle and with a few quick stitches;
it is turned into a hooded scarf. Two balls of Lion Brand
“Wool Ease Thick and Quick” yarn and size 13 US needles
are called for. Large needles
and thick yarn are perfect for
children’s fingers to hold.
Cast on 54 stitches and knit
every row (garter stitch) until
the piece measures 19 inches,
then bind off. It should measure
about 19 by 24 inches. Fold
in half so the piece is now 19
by 12 and sew across the top
12 inches. (I bound off using
the three-needle technique,
showing no seam.) Then sew
about 8 inches up from the
bottom leaving about an 11-inch opening. You can make
any adjustments needed for a smaller, child-sized piece.
Pickleball Comes to FSUF!
By MaryAnn Yurcisin
Pickleball has come to FSUF! More than a dozen and
a half FSUF residents have started to learn the game of
pickleball. We play on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons
from 3PM to 5PM at the YMCA on Sawmill Road, which
is less than five minutes away.
Pickleball is a paddle sport created for all ages and
skill levels. It combines elements of tennis, badminton
and ping-pong. It can be played indoors or outdoors on
a badminton-sized court, approximately half of a tennis
court. It’s played with a paddle (oversized ping-pong), a
whiffle ball and a net similar, but smaller, than a tennis
net.
Pickleball was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island
by a couple of dads whose kids were bored with usual
summertime activities. There is now USA Pickleball
Association (USAPA) and is played throughout the
world. It’s played in backyards for fun, as well as, at
tournament levels. See their website www.usapa.org for
more details.
Each Tuesday and Thursday the courts at the YMCA
are reserved only for FSUF residents. There are usually
doubles and singles games going on at the YMCA’s three
courts. As newcomers to the game, we are all getting
used to the feel of the paddles and the ball. Serving
is underhanded, so it’s a little easier on the shoulder
muscles. Scoring is starting to come easier… if we can
only remember who served last!
If you are interested in watching the games to see how
it’s played, or wish to join in the play, come to the YMCA
on Tuesdays and Thursdays in January and February.
I’m enjoying learning this new sport, and it gets me
out of the house on these cold winter days!
PS. You may wonder why it’s called pickleball. It was
named for their dog. Pickle, who loved to retrieve the
balls that were hit off the court.
New Year’s
Eve Party
The second piece is almost as easy,
since it’s a scarf using the pattern that
was featured in last month’s column,
the double-sided cable stitch. In
a catalogue of Irish knits, I saw a
picture of a very expensive scarf
and said to myself “I can do that,”
so I did. I recycled some yarn that
I had around from another project,
borrowed the cable stitch pattern,
cast on 64 stitches size using size 10
US needles and knit until I ran out
of yarn, but there is one hitch. After
binding off, I turned back the edge to
form a pocket that the other end of
the scarf could be slipped into, and
sewed it closed. The original picture
that I saw showed three buttons, so
if you would like, you could add
buttonholes just before your scarf is
done and sew on buttons. I took the
lazy man’s way and just attached the
scarf to itself and sewed on buttons
for “effect.”
Lacking a volunteer, Bill, to
pose wearing the hooded scarf, I
commandeered St. Nick for that
purpose. Fear not, he’s back at the
North Pole, getting ready for next
year’s operation.
february, 2015
13
Please see answers on page 23
14
february, 2015
First Day of Spring
is March 20, 2015!
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february, 2015
15
Hither and Yon
by Iris Adirim
It's been quite a while since I found new and
interesting sites to write about. At the suggestion of
Rich Cardillo, I revisited the Monmouth Battlefield
State Park on Route 33 in Manalapan, the site of one
of the largest battles of the Revolutionary War which
took place on June 28,1778. Recently, they built a new
visitors center on top of Combs Hill, a site commanded
by the Continental Army artillery. This is now a National
Historical Landmark.
The Visitors Center contains interactive exhibits in
addition to an animated relief map displaying the battle's
complicated maneuvers. The exhibits explain how the
battles rescued George Washington's reputation and led
to him becoming our first president. Some exhibits show
artifacts like spoons and cuff links from the British Army
in addition to replicas of a surgeons’ instruments. There
are showcases of uniforms worn by both sides. There
were many different types of soldiers fighting the war
and each wore unique uniforms. The uniforms showed
what side you were on, what unit you were assigned to
and gave a hint about their duties.
16
february, 2015
The museum also contains stories about the myth of
Molly Pitcher. They claim she was a water carrier who
took over firing a canon when her husband was killed.
It seems the stories are a combination of many different
soldiers' wives.
The movie theater shows a film of the battle that is
informative and interesting. For a dramatic effect, they
raise the screen at the end of the movie and you see a
large picture window looking out at the battlefield.
The museum offers 25 miles of trails to hike and
picnic. They have maps of the area available.
Some walking trails start and end at the Visitors
Center.
There are different hours of operation according to the
season. Call 732-462-9616 to confirm hours. It really is
worth a visit. Thanks Rich.
347 Freehold-Englishtown Road, Manalapan, NJ 07726
Caring Hearts
Resident Condolences
by Mary Jane McCarthy
The following statement is an explanation of the
Committee's procedure regarding the passing of a
resident here at Four Seasons.
Please note that this policy only applies to the death of
a resident and does not relate in any way to the passing
of a non-resident.
When there is a death in the Community, the family,
relative or friend should contact the Caring Hearts
Committee with all the information including date of
passing, funeral arrangements and any other matters
pursuant to death of such resident. Upon receipt of
all the facts, the Committee will forward same to the
Community Manager, who will in turn, send it out to the
entire Community by e-mail. Subsequently, a condolence
notice with appropriate information is placed on the
bulletin board in the Clubhouse.
PLEASE NOTE: This procedure is exercised ONLY
upon request of the family, relative or friend of the
deceased.
The Caring Hearts Committee can be contacted as
follows:
If Mary Jane McCarthy, Chairman or Judy Horowitz,
Co-Chair, cannot be reached, you may call any one of
the following members:
Rosemary Albach
Freda Pollack
Iris Adirim
Shirley Rinaldi
Peg Iannetta
Barbara Staeger
Betty Krams
Judy Scymanski
Marion Lyon
Puck van Steenhoven
february, 2015
17
Adventures at Sea
by Barbara Schuman
Sue and Harry Montgomery in Ireland,
this past fall, tracing steps of our
grandparents and visiting castles.
18
february, 2015
I went on a wonderful Caribbean cruise with my
daughter and her family the last week of 2014 on the
Allure of the Seas. It is a huge ship with the most
amazing amenities. The kids were busy all day long,
and the adults were happy as can be. We did many
exciting things on the ship and in ports. We body
surfed (not Grandma), zip lined, tubed, swam with the
dolphins and climbed Dunn's River Falls (yes Grandma
did that one). But one of the most memorable events
occurred on our last day at sea.
I was relaxing on a lounge chair, in the adult-only
area when I noticed lots of passengers rushing to the
edge of the deck and looking out to sea. Of course,
I joined them. Out in the water, a tiny speck was
pointed out to me as the object of everyone's attention.
Suddenly, the captain was on the loudspeaker, “We
have spotted something unusual in the water, and
maritime law requires us to investigate. So, we are
stopping and turning around.” Through the binoculars
that a fellow passenger was using, I could make out
the tiny, distant object. It was a crude raft with a blue
sail and eight or nine passengers! A small yellow boat
was sent from our ship to investigate. We could see
it bobbing in waters that were not as calm as they
appeared from our 17-story height. When it got back
to the ship, the captain let us know that, “They're not
in any trouble, they just wanted to know 'Which way
to the U.S.?' We have a call in to the Coast Guard and
are obligated to wait until they get here.”
About an hour later two U.S. Coast Guard vessels
appeared on the scene and took over while we
continued on our way. It seems the men on board had
left Cuba and were attempting to make it to the United
States. We were about 30 miles from Havana, Cuba
when we spotted them.
With a little research, I found that an AmericanCuban agreement requires us to return the wouldbe refugees to Cuba. It's called the “Wet Foot, Dry
Foot” agreement. If found on the ocean, they must be
returned. If they manage to get a foot on the dry land
of the U.S., they can stay. So, I must assume that the
men we saw are back home and subject to the wrath
of the Cuban government.
Some cruise lines will do anything to entertain their
customers!!!
Bev and John Fiore built this snowman
Saturday morning, January 31. They saw
the movie American Sniper the day before
and thought the patriotic theme would honor
Chris Kyle. Thank you John, for your
service in the Vietnam War.
Brrr! The first snow!
Winter scenes from the
Community, thanks to Ingrid
Kowalski and MaryAnn Yurcisin
february, 2015
19
BOOK REVIEW
The Winter
Guest
by Pam Jenoff
Reviewed by Betty Krams
Recently, I was fortunate
enough to attend a book and
author session of our local BNC
(Brandeis) organization. The
author, Pam Jenoff, a friend of
Judy Horowitz and her daughter,
Joan Yesner, delivered a beautiful lecture about her latest
novel, The Winter Guest. Pam is a perfectly charming
young woman with an unbelievable background. She
holds a Bachelor’s Degree in international affairs from
George Washington University, a Master’s Degree in
history from Cambridge, and her Juris Doctor from the
University of Pennsylvania. She previously served as a
Foreign Service Officer for the U.S. State Department
in Europe as the Special Assistant to the Secretary of
the Army at the Pentagon. In addition to writing, she
is a practicing attorney, teaches law school, is married
and has three children. Coincidentally, I reviewed two
of her prior novels in this column, which I enjoyed very
much: The Kommandant’s Girl (which earned a Quill
Award nomination) and The Diplomat’s Wife. Maybe
you remember them?
The story begins when a policeman and a social worker
visit Helena, an old woman in a New York residence for
the elderly. They have come to talk about some “bones”
that have been recently unearthed in Helena’s hometown
located less than 20 kilometers southeast of the city of
Krakow, Poland. This prompts Helena to reminisce about
her past life in 1940 on a small farm in the wooded hills
where time has stood still for many years.
Under the shadow of the Nazi occupation, life is in a
constant turmoil for the eighteen-year-old twins, Ruth
and Helena Nowak. Their father, an alcoholic, has died
and their mother is living in a Jewish nursing facility
(although they are Christians). They have three younger
siblings to raise, Michal, Dorie and Karolina. Although
Ruth and Helena are twins, they have entirely different
personalities. Ruth is the feminine, motherly type, and
Helena is more the outdoor, adventurous one, having
accompanied her father in his hunting and farming
activities. The sisters are trying to keep the family
20
february, 2015
together, which is their mother’s fervent wish. However,
the impending invasion the Nazis and diminishing food
supply has placed them on constant edge.
Quite remarkably, Helena discovers a wounded
American paratrooper outside their small mountain
village. She risks the family’s safety as well as her own
and hides Sam in a small abandoned chapel in the woods.
It turns out Sam is Jewish, something very strange to
Helena; however, her concern for the American G.I.
becomes more than concern, but a strong love. A lot of
the tale weaves around Helena’s visits to her mother in
the nursing facility, supplying Sam with small amounts
of food in order to survive, and her search for the Polish
resistance to rescue Sam. In her adventures, she does
find a resistance fighter, views the results of the Nazis
killing the nursing home residents, and encounters a pit
full of dead bodies.
Sam is so in love with Helena that he makes plans to
flee. It is a highly improbable plan, but the author, as in
her other books, doesn’t take “improbable” seriously;
this is what makes her writing so intense. She also
describes Ruth’s jealousy against Helena quite often
and is constantly psychoanalyzing the differences in
the personalities of the twins, who are usually (but
not necessarily) suffering from “guilt” of some sort. I
understand that the author also has twin girls, maybe
that is the underlying reason.
If and how they escape is for you to find out. I enjoyed
this book very much and think you will as well. ENJOY
READING!!!
Guests and Vendors Sent to the
Rear Gate by GPS
by Walt Nerlick
Emergency Management Committee
Technology is great when it works well, but it’s a
headache when it doesn’t. Have you ever received a
phone call from a vendor or guest stating they are sitting
at the back gate and can’t get in? They used a GPS device
with your address, but it took them to the back gate.
It’s happened to me many times. However, it doesn’t
happen to all residents. Depending on your address, a
GPS device used by a visitor may or may not bring them
properly to the front gate. So, what do you do about
this? You may want to do what I do. I tell my guests and
vendors to use “1 Minuteman Circle” for GPS purposes
only. This will bring them to the front gate. Then they
can either ask the security guards for directions or use
their GPS with the proper address.
Hip Hip Hooray!
The Misadventures Of A
Hip Replacement Survivor
by Weezie Huntington
I want to share what I learned before, during and
after a recent hip replacement “procedure” and hope
some of my recommendations might make a hip or knee
replacement a smoother event in your life.
Upon discovering I had no cartilage in my hip and
lots of arthritis, I was advised that a hip replacement
was in order after a cortisone shot provided no relief.
The doctor said I could do it on my own timetable, but
that the hip I would be getting would last for 40 years.
I scheduled it four weeks out.
As a former aquatic fitness professional, I taught at
the aerobic level and worked one-on-one with people
coming out of physical therapy (PT). My certification
required routine continuing education credits (CEC)
with the Aquatic Exercise Association or with Aquatic
Rehabilitation and Therapy Institute, where I did most
of my CECs.
Prior to the operation I got back in the pool. Even
though it hurt, I went through every exercise that would
strengthen my hips, knees, core, adductors, gluts, quads,
etc. I worked hard, knowing what my restrictions would
be after surgery (don’t cross the midline, no internal
hip rotation, and do not exceed 90 degrees at the hip.)
Because I had worked those areas, I have sailed through
the beginning part of therapy.
TAKEAWAY: The better condition you are in going into
this kind of operation, the easier rehab will be.
As I went through all the pre-admission testing, I got
totally conflicting information from the doctor's office
and the scheduling departments at RWJ Hamilton as to
when certain clearances needed to be done. The hospital
said I had to have my blood work done within seven days
of surgery, which would leave little time for clearance
from my primary. The surgeon’s office said it was valid
for 3 months. Go figure.
TAKEAWAY: Check with your doctor’s office as to
their timetable. If there are conflicting instructions,
get clarification.
Everything went smoothly with admission to the
hospital; the surgery was easy (for the doctor) and
“normal." I was in my room three hours later, totally
drugged up. I think they gave me enough pain medication
to kill an ox. I have never felt so awful and wondered
how people could take this stuff “recreationally.” I was
unable to do the first PT walk without being totally
nauseous and fearful I would collapse. The doctor altered
my medications immediately. I left the hospital 56 hours
after surgery and was able to manage my post-surgical
pain with medication as prescribed by my doctor.
During the preadmission appointments and again
when I arrived at the hospital, I had informed staff that
post surgery I was going home, not to rehab. So it was
an unwelcome surprise to discover at discharge that a
walker had not been ordered. And I am supposed to get
around, how? I considered this to be a complete failure
on their part.
TAKEAWAY: Make sure your walker is ordered the
first day you are there.
My hospital discharge was another confusing time.
Although both the PT and OT (Occupation Therapy)
Departments wanted me to stay one more night, I was
surprised to learn from the nurse on duty that I was going
home that day. By that time it was already 2:30, and we
were not yet completely prepared at home.
An essential piece of equipment is a commode. We
found out that Medicare does not cover this item unless
there is no bathroom on the same floor as your bedroom
or if you only have one room. So my husband was left
to scramble at the last minute, paying far too much at
a medical supply store in Hamilton. Only later did we
learn we could have gotten one for a quarter of the cost
at a local big box hardware chain. We also encountered
some results that were unpleasant to deal with when we
installed this device incorrectly.
There is other equipment: grabbers, leg lifters, long
shoehorns, and something for putting on socks, that you
will also find useful during your recuperation. These are
available at the Goodwill Medical store in Ewing. All of
the equipment there has been donated, refurbished and
sanitized, and costs almost nothing.
TAKEAWAY: Purchase any equipment that you may
need prior to your hospital stay. The visiting nurse will
instruct you in the proper use of any device unfamiliar
to you.
After the surgery, I had to take medications to manage
pain, and a regimen to prevent clotting, not to mention
all-important laxatives. These meds were to be taken
for varying lengths of time according to doctor's orders.
Once again, I encountered a conflict when my outpatient
physical therapist wanted me off of painkillers. I had
to call my surgeon's office about this and also because
I needed a refill on one of the drugs. Only then was I
informed that after three weeks, one prescription was
– Continued on page 22
february, 2015
21
– "Hip Hip Hooray!" con't from page 21
to be changed for something else. And I was supposed
to know this how? I should think it would have been
simple enough to include in discharge papers: call your
doctor, or, your doctor wants you to switch from drug x
to aspirin after so many days.
TAKEAWAY: Ask your doctor before surgery about his
or her full protocol for meds after surgery. Then, even
if you remember what was said, call the office before
you finish the first course of any medication so that
you are prepared for what comes next.
The surgery was a great success, and PT is going
well. But the communication miscues and screw-ups
were frustrating, unnecessary, and potentially harmful.
Always have an advocate when you go to the hospital,
ask questions all the time, challenge people as to why
they are doing something. Knowledge is power, and it
will keep you safer.
HOSPITAL STAY:
• Make sure they order your walker (Medicare will pay
for one every 10 years) and any other “toys” and tools
you will need, in a timely manner.
• Make PT your priority. Sometimes it will hurt. You
need to break up scar tissue that is forming and will
restrict you later on, and you need to strengthen parts
of your body that have been weakened from lack of
use due to pain.
• Rest every day. Don’t overdo it physically.
• Call your surgeon’s office before you run out of meds.
Ask questions all the time.
• Do not be afraid to reach out and ask for help.
Editor’s note: Please check all medical and insurance
coverage with your medical team and insurance provider.
In summary to make your post-surgical life easier:
PRE SURGERY:
• There are exercises on the web that are easy to do at
home. Just Google “hip replacement exercises." Get
into the pool—it is easier there.
• Spend time going through your ADLs (activities of
daily living) seeing what will need to be adjusted
when you are restricted from bending over; how will
you tie your shoes; move things you use into easy
reach. Purchase shoes that you can slide into easily.
• You will be weak, especially in your hips and legs.
One of the important things to consider is where you
will sit — in order not to break your hip restriction
whatever you sit on should hit you above your knee.
This will keep your knee lower than your hip, which
is a good way to be less than 90 degrees.
• Check the height of your toilet—does it hit you on
the back of your calf, at the knee, or above the knee.
Get the raised seat or the commode before you go
into the hospital.
• Do you need a shower seat?
• Get dense foam cushions to add to other chairs. (These
are available at Goodwill Medical store—I sure wish
I had known about that place before my surgery.)
• How easy is it to get into your car without bending 90
degrees at the hip? Is your butt lower than your knees
when you get in? Can you adjust the driver seat in
enough directions to sit without breaking restrictions?
If not, how will you get around when you are able to
drive?
• Freeze a bunch of meals ahead of time.
22
february, 2015
Neighborhood News
by Barbara Schuman
The talk of the O'Connor-Albach family is the news
that Rosemary Albach's cousin, Father Gerald O'Connor,
met and shook hands with Pope Francis I last year. The
Holy Father was on his tour of South Korea. Father
O'Connor, a Maryknoll Missioner, has been stationed
in South Korea since his ordination to the priesthood in
1969. With his typical Irish humor, Father Gerald stated
that he knew if he waited long enough the Pope would
stop by his neighborhood.
Alexa Rose Maltese, daughter of Carrie and Evan
Maltese and granddaughter of Lois Gutterman, was
selected as one of three winners for her efforts at filming
a program focusing on methods of conservation. The
state-wide competition was organized by New Jersey
Natural Gas. Her film, as well as those of the other
two contenders, can be seen by logging onto the NJNG
website. The winner will be decided by viewers’ choice.
Though only a sophomore at Marlboro High School,
Alexa was asked to join the Honors Program, Innovation
and Design, for her aptitude for film making. There is a
bright future in film for Alexa!
Please tell me all the news of your family to be
included in my column. You know they love to see their
names in print! Call 208-2116 or e-mail bschuman@
verizon.net
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